Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

: . wa <— a? e- <<. PONS Oe j * é ; vr @ ee ee ~ - ee A ~ eee, mes = - ‘‘Upon my honor,” said Rochefort, ‘‘my dear coun- wy) tess, it is oniy you can perform this sort of miracles." : Sie _ And well is it that I can chevalier,” said her lady- ie ship, “for do you know what is about to happen ?”’ ; “* No,’’ next day, with an order from the queen.” “Really! And who are they ?”’ ‘ **D’Artagnan and his friends.” ed to put them into the Bastile.’’ “And why has it not been done already ?”’ “ How can I tell? because the cardinal eyinces a ar werknese toward these men which I cannot compre- «s) hend.”’ “Really! Well, then, tell him this, Rochefort; tell him that our conversation at the Red Dove-Cot was heard by \ these tour men—tell him that, after ‘his departure, one of them came up and took from me by force the pass- t port he had given me—tell him that they gave Lord de ht 82, Winter warning of my voyage to England—that this im time again, they nearly prevented the success of my un- ia dertaking, as they did that of the diamond studs—tell »’ ‘him that amongst these four men, only two are to be | feared, d’Artagnan and Athos—tell him that the third, Aramis, is the lover of Madame de Chevreuse; he must be allowed to live, for his secret is known, and he may be made useful; and as for the fourth, Porthos, he is a - + fool,a fop, a ninny, not worth giving one’s self the smallest trouble about.” |i "But these four men ought to be at this moment, at “3 the siege of la Rochelle.”’ “T thought so too; but a letter which Madame Bon- As ancieux has received from Madame de Chevreuse, and 8 | which she had the imprudence to communicate to me, ? leads me to believe that these four men are now on their mS way to carry her off.” | “The devil! What must we do?” be “ What did thecardinal say to you abont me?” ! “That I was to take your dispatches, whether verbal or written, and to return by post. When he knows what you have done, he will give you further direc- tions,” .S - “T must remain here, then ?” | 4 “ Here, or in the neighborhood.” ~ “You cannot take me with you ?”’ ti “No, the order is precise. In the environs of the ae in camp you might be recognized; and you can understand Ay” that your presence might compromise his eminence, es- aA pecially after what has just happened in England. rites a ly tell me beforehand where you will await the car- bye dinal’s orders, that I may know where to find you.” = “Listen; it is very probable that I cannot remain here.” oO a ee. “You forget that my enemies may arrive at any mo- mo! ment.” Ry “Trne. But then this little woman will escape his eminence.” | a Valee “ah i’ said her ladyship, with a smile peculiar to + herself, “* you forget that I am her best friend.” “Ah! that is true. Then I may tell the cardinal, with regard to this woman '’"—— “That he may make himself easy.” “Ts thatall? Willghe know what that means?” ; “He will guess it.” : els * And now, let us see, what onght I to do?’ : ; “You must set off this instant. It appears to me oe that the news you carry is well worth the trouble of a aye little haste.” ae “My carriage broke down on entering Lilliers.”’ “y SS aaa “ Excellent.”’ il * What do you mean by excellent 2” aoe “Why, I want your carriage.” oy “And how am I to travel, then ?’ **On post-horses.”’ * You talk of it very unconcernedly ; a hundred and eighty heagues.”’ | ee “What does that signify?” aaa * Well, it shall be done. What next ?’” ae “On passing through Lilliers you will send your car- ‘ae riage to me, with directions to your servant to attend mares" > to my commands,” ii aay “Very well |” es “You have, no doubt, some order from the cardinal Py in your possession.”’ a “ Yes, I have my plenary authority.” SS “You will show that to the abbess, and you will tell ge” her that I shall be sent for either to-day or to-morrow, 1 ee and that I must accompany the person sent in your PRLS name,” “Ted “Very well!” i pete * Do not forget to speak harshly of me, when you talk veel to the abbess.”’ AR “Why so?’ miey es “Tam one of the cardinal’s victims. I must inspire 0 Cpe seme confidence in that poor little Madame Bonan- Aor! cieux.” . es. “True. And now will you make me a report of all 6 oe that has occurred ?”’ Berar “T have already told you the events, and you havea es ool memory ; 80 repeat what I told you. A paper may SY @ lost.” “You are right; only let me know where you are to be found, that Imay not have to run about the country in vain,” “Ah! that is true. Wait.” y “Do you require a map?” 3" “*Oh, I know this country well.” “You? When did you ever visit it?’ “1 was educated here.” “Indeed !”’ “Tt is some advantage, you see, to have been educated somewhere.”’ “You will wait for me, then ?” “Let me consider 4 moment—ah! yea, 4 Armen- * Gieres,” “ And where is Armentieres ?” — 2 * - a * —s pe ot 4: Tue = ~~ - oN eeeEEEEEOEOEOEOoEoEeeEeEOeEeEeEeee “They are coming here for her to-morrow, or the | 4 “Verily, they will doso much that we shall be oblig- | THE THREE GUARDSMEN. “TItisa little village, on the Lys. I shall only have to cross the river, and I shall be in another country.” “ Capital; but you must remember that you are only to cross the river in case of danger.” “That is understood.” | “And in that case, how shall I discover where you , are?” | “You do not want your servant ? _yottcan depend ?” Ts he one on whom “ Perfectly !"’ “Give himto me: no one knows him. him at the place I quit, and he will conduct you to me.” “And you say that you will wait for me at Argen- teries |"’ *“ At Armentieres !’’ ‘Write the name for me on a slip of paper, lestI should forget it. The name of a village will not com- promise any one, will it?” “Ah! who knows? but never mind,” said her lady- ship, writing the name on a half sheet of paper, “‘ I will run the hazard.”’ “Good,” said Rochefort, taking from her ladyship’s hands the paper, which he folded and stuffed into the lining of his hat. “And I shall, besides, do like the children, and, as a provision against the loss of the paper, I shall repeat the name all the way I go: Nowyiethetall ?” “TI think so.”’ pod “ Let us see:—Buckingham deadyor grievously wound- ed; your conversation with the cardinal, heard by the musketeers ; Lord de Winter of your arrival at Portsmouth ; d’Ar an and! Athos to the Baatile ; Aramis, the lover otf Madame de Chevreuse ; Porthos a fool ; Madame Bonancieux diseovered ; to send you the carriage as soon as possible ; to put my servant under your orders ; to make you a vietim of the cardinal, that the abbess may have no suspicion ; Armentieres, on the banks of the Lys :—is that right?” “ Verily, my dear chevalier, you are a miracle of mem- ory. But, by the way, add one thing.” * And what is that ?’’ ‘I saw some very pretty woods, which must join the gardens of the convent. Say that Imay be allowed to walk in these woods. Who knows ?—I may perhaps be obliged to get out by some back door,” “You think of everything.” **And you forget one thing.” * What is that ?’”’ “To ask me whether I want any money.” “Exactly ; how much will you have?’ ‘All the gold you may have abont you.” “T have nearly five hundred pistoles,’’ “T have about as many! With a thousand pistoles one nay face anything. Empty your pockets.” “There,” “Good. And when do you set off?" ‘In one hour; just time enough to eat a morvel, whilst I send to fetch a post-horse,’’ “Excellent. Adieu, count.’ , “ Adieu, countess.” ‘My compliments to the cardinal.” * Mine to Satan.’’ Her ladyship and Rochefort exchanged smiles, and separated. n an hour aiterwards, Rochefort set out at full speed; and five hours aiterwards, he passed through Arras. Our readers already know how he was recognized by d’Artagnan, and how that recognition, by exciting the fears of our four musketeers, had given new activity to their journey. SS CHAPTER LX, A DROP OF WATER. SCARCELY had Rochefort left, before Madame Bonan- cieux returned. She found her ladyship with a smiling countenance. “ Well,” said the young woman, “ what you feared has happened. This evening or to-morrow, the cardinal will send for you ?”’ “How do you know that ?’’ “‘T heard it from the lips of the messenger himself.” *Come and sit down by me,” said her ladyship: “but first let me be sure that no one hears us.”’ “And why all these precatitions !”’ “You will soon know.” Her ladyship arose, went to the door, opened it, look- ed along the corridor, and then came back, and seated herself again by the side of Madame Bonancieux. “Then,” said she again, “he played his part well.” * Who did ?” ‘He who introduced himself to the abbess as the en- voy of the cardinal |” “Was it, then, a part that he was acting ?”’ “ Yes, my child.” “Then that man is not ’’— ‘That man,” said her ladyship, lowering her voice, “is my brother.” ‘‘Your brother !’’ exclaimed Madame Bonancicux, ‘‘Nobody but you knows this secret, my child; if you should entrust it to anybody in the world, I should be ruined, and you, also, perhaps.” “Oh, my God!” “Listen; this is what has taken place. My brother, who was coming to my aid, to take me away trom here, by force if necessary, met the cardinal’s emissary, who was on his way to fetch me. He followed him. On ar- riving at a retired solitary spot, he drew his sword, and commanded the messenger to deliver to him the pa- pers which he carried. The messenger endeavored to defend himself, and my brother slew him.” “Oh!” said Madame Bonancieux, shuddering. “There was no alternative, remember. My brother then determined to make use of craft instead of force. He took the rs, presented himself here as. the emissary of the cardinal himself, and in an hour or two, I will leave | a carriage will come to take me away in his eminence’s name,” “T understand; it is your brother who will send this carriage.”’ “Exactly so. But that is not all: that letter which you have received, and which you believe to be from dame Chevreuse '’——— “Well?” ‘Is a forgery.” * What?” “Yes, a forgery; it is a snare, that you may make ne resistance when they come to fetch yon.” *“ But it is d’Artagnan who will come ?”’ , “*Undeceive yourse t. D’Artagnan and his friends are at the siege of la Rochelle.” * How do you know that ?’’ * My brother met with some of the cardinal’s agents, in the uniform of musketeers. They were to ¢call you out tothe gates you would have believed that you were In the company or ae veg 2 and they were to carry you off, and convey you to Paris,” “Oh! my God! my head fails in the midst of such a chaos of iniquities. . L feel that if it lasts long,’’ said Madame apg sere putting her hands to her head, “I should go mad, “Listen: T hear the step of a horse: it is that of my bro- ther who is going away. L must take a last farewell of him. Come, Her ladyship opened the window, and made a sign to Madame Bonancieux to join her. The young woman went to her; and Rochefort passed by at a ake g ** Good-by, brother,’”’ said her ladyship. The chevalier raised his head, saw the two young women, and, as he went rapidly past, made a friendly farewell motion with his hand, “* That kind George!” said she, closing the window, with an expression of countenance full of affection and melancholy. he then returned, and sat down in her place, as th plunged in reflections of a personal kind. ** Dear lady,” said Madam Bonancieux, “ pardon me _ for interrupting you; but what do you advise me to do? You have more experience than I have; speak, and I will listen.” “Tn the first place,” said her lndyship, “1 might possibly be deceived, and d’Artagnan and his friends may be really coming to your assistance,” **Oh ! that would be too fortunate,” said Madame Bonan- peux, ‘‘and I fear that s0 much happiness is not reserved or me.” ‘Then, do you see, it would be merely a question of time, a kind of race, as to which would arrive first. If it should be your fYiends who made best haste, why then you would be saved: but, if it were the cardinal’s satellites, then you would be ruined,” ““Oh! yes, yes! lost without mercy. But what must I do? what must I dor” “ There is one very simple and very natural plan,” “And whatisthat? Tell me?’ It would be to wait, concealed in the neighborhood; and so to make yourself sure who the men were who came to seek you,” “ Bift where can I wait?” “Oh! that is not a matter of difficulty. I myself, must wait, and conceal myself at a few leagues distanee from hence until my brother comes to meet me. Well, then, I will take you with me—we will hide and wait together.” ‘“ But I shall not be allowed to leave this place; I am al- most regarded as a prisoner here.” * As it is supposed that I leave on account of an order from the cardinal, it will not be believed that*you are very anxious to follow me.” “Well?” “Very well. The carriage being atthe door, you will bid me adieu, and you will get upon the steps to press me in your arms for the last time, My brother’s servant, who is coming to fetch me, being forewarned, will give asignal to the pos- tilion, and we shall go off at full gallop.” ‘ * But d’Artagnan—if he should come?” ‘Shall we not know it?” ** How?” ‘Nothing is more easy. We will send this servant of my brother’s, in whom I have told you that I have the atest confidence, back to Bethune; and he shall disguise himself, and find a lodging opposite the convent. If it should be the cardinal’s emissaries, who come, he will not stir; if it should be M, d’Artagnan and his friends, he will lead them to where we are.”’ ‘* Tie knows them, then?” “Certainly; has he not seen M. d’Artagnan at my house?” “Oh! yes, yes you are right. Thus, all willgoon well. But do not let us go far away from here.” ‘Seven or eight leagues at the most. We will keep upon the frontiers, and upon the first alarm, we will quit France.”’ ‘In the meantime, what must we do?’ * Wait.” ‘But if they should come?” ‘My brother’s carriage will arrive before them.” ‘“Suppose I should be away from you when it arrives—at dinner, or at supper, for example?” “Tell our abbess that, in order that we may be as Tit- tle separated as possible, you request her to allow you to take your meals with me.” ** Wil she permit it?” ‘*What objection can there be to that? Go down now to her, and make your request. I feel my head a little heavy, and so I shall take a turn in the garden,”’ ‘*And where may I see you again?” ‘* Here, in one hour from this time.” . “Here, and in one hour! Oh! you are very kind, and Tf thank you.” ** How should T avoid being interested in you. If you had not been beautiful and charming, are you not the friend of one of my best friends?” “Dear d’Artagnan! Oh how he shall thank you.” “Thope so. Come, It is all arranged; let us go down.”’ “You are going to the garden? Proceed along this corri- dor; a little staircase leads you to It.” “Good. Thank you.” And the two ladies separated, exchanging charming amites Her ladyship had spoken the truth; her head was heavy, for her projects, badly arranged, clashed against each other as inchaos. She had need to be alone that she might put a little order Into her ideas. She saw dimly into the future; but it required some moments of silence and tranquility to give to this confused ea ton ae of conceptions a definite form, and a decided plan. What was now most urgent, was to carry off Madame Bonancieux, and put her in a place of security; and then, should her game fail, to use her as a hostage. Her ladyship began to dread the issue of this ter- rible duel, in which her enemies were quite as persevering as she ,jherself was unrelenting. Besiaes, she felt, as one feels the ‘approaches of a storm, that this issue was near, and would not fail to be fearful, The principal point for her, was, as we have said, to get possession Of Madame Bonancieux. By this means she should hold in her hands 'the life of d’ nan; or more even than bis life, for she should hold that of the woman he loved. In case of unprosperous fortune, It was @ means of opening negotiations, and of securing favorable terma.