Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 71: what you’re looking at

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e 2 ¢ a F a nal \ THE THREE GUARDSMEN. 7 ¢rime—should at any rate partake his punishment. I sus- cted where she was concealed, I followed and discovered er. I bound her and imprinted the same brand on her, that had stamped upon my own brother. ** Phe next day, ou my return to Lille, my brother also man- aged to eseape. I was accused as his accomplice, and was condemned to remain in ee in hit place, so long as he Should continue at large. y poor brother was not aware of this sentence; he had rejoined this woman; and they fled to- gether into Berri; here he obtained a small curacy. This wo- man passed for his sister. The owner of the estate to which the curacy belonged, saw this pretended sister and fell in love with her. His passion led him to propose to marry her. She left the man whom she had destroyed, and became the Coun. tees de la Fere,”’ All eyes were turned towards Athos, whose true name this rae and he made a sign that the executioner’s tale was e. Then,” continued the latter, “ maddened by despair, and resolved to terminate an existence of which the happiness and honor had been thus destroyed, my poor brother return- ed to Lille; and hearing the sentence which had condemned me in his place, he delfvered himself up asa prisoner, and hung himself the same i, to the grating of his dungeon. After all, to do them justice, they who had condemned me kept their word. Scarcely was the identity to the dead body proved betare my liberty was restored, These are the crimes w of wy accuse her ese are the reasons why | branded r “M. aA an,” said Athos, ‘what is the punishment that you demand inst this woman?” ” nishment of death,” replied d'A an. “My Lord de Winter,’ continued Athos, “ what punish- ment do you demand against this woman?” * Death!” replied his ‘ “ Messieurs Porthos and Aramis,” said Athos, “you who are her what punishment do you pronounce inst this women TD me **The punishment of death!" replied the two musketeers in a hollow voice. Her ladyship uttered a fearful ery, and dragged herself a few paces on her knees towards her Judges, Athos stretched out his hand towards her. “Anne de Bruicl,"’ said he, “ Countess de la Fere, Lady de Winter, your crimes have wearied men on earth and God in heaven. If you know eres repeat it; for you are condemned, and ee are about to At these w which left no hope, her ay raised her- sett to her full height, and attempted to speak. But her voice failed her, She felt a strong and pitiless hand seize her by the hair, and d on, a8 irrevocably as fate drags on man She vey therefore, even mpt to make any resistance, but left the ; ' Lord de Winter and the four friends went out after her. The valets followed their masters, and the chamber was lett empty, with its window, its open door, and the smoking lamp burning sadly on the table CHAPTER LXIIL. THE EXBCUTION, Tr was almost midnight. The waning moon, as red as blood from the lingering traces of the storm, was rising behind the little village of entieres, which exhibited In that pale t, the gloomy profile of its houses, and_ the skeleton of its h ornamented steeple. In front, the Lys rolled along ita waters like a river of molten fire; whilst on its other bank, a dark mass of trees was sharply outlined upon a stormy sky, eovered by meee cop r-colored clouds, which created a sort of twilight in the middle ot the night. To the left, arose an old deserted mill, of which the sails were motionless, and frem the ruins of which an owl was uttering its sharp, monot- onous, recurring screech. Here and there, in the plain, to the right and to the left of the path which the melanchol train was taking, there appe a& few short and stunted trees, whieh looked like distorted dwarfs crouched down to watch the men in that |ll-omened hour, From time to time, a brilliant flash opened up the horizon in its whole extent: a be above the black mass of tree: and coming, like a fig tful clmeter, to divide’ the sky an ‘water into equal parts, Not a breath of air was stirring in the heavy atmosphere. A silence as of death weighed down all nature, e@ earth was moist and slippery from the re- eent rain; and re-animated planta sent forth their perfumes with more a gpl, 4 » of the servants, each holding an arm, were leading her The executioner walked behind, The four ladyship along. musketeers and Lord de Winter followed him. Planchet and Bazin brought up the rear. The two valets led her! Aeoag towards the side of the river, er mouth was mute, but her eyes were inexpressibly elo- a eee by turns each of those on whom she look- laa ng herself a few paces in advance, she said to the “ A thousand prstotes for each of you, if you will assist me to ; but if yougive me up to your’ masters, I have Sent avengers near, who will make you pay dearly for my Hormaad hesitated, and Mousqueton trembled in every Athos, who had heard: her ladyship’s voice, came up im- mediately, as did also Lord de Winter, Send away these yalets,”’ said he; “she has spoken to them, and they are no longer safe.”’ They called Planchet and Bazin, who took the places of Grimaud and Monsqueton. Having reached the rink of the stream, the executioner came up, and bound her ladyship’s hands and feet. She then broke her silence to exclaim: ‘You are cowards —you are miserable assassins! You come, ten of you, to murder & poor woman! But, beware! If I am not assisted, I shall be avenged!” “You are not @ woman,” replied Athos, coldly; “ you do not belong to the human race; you are a demon, escaped from hell, and to hell we shall send you back.” “Oh! you virtuous gentlemen,” said her ladyship, ‘re. member that he amongst you who touches a hair of my head, 5 himself a mrurderer. “The executioner can kill without being on that account a murderer, madam,’ said the manin the cloak, striking his hirge sword. “He is the last judge on earth, that is all. Nachrichter, as our German neighbors say. And, as he was binding her whilst he uttered these word her ey pm sent forth two or three wild screams, which ha a startling melancholy effect, as they were borne on the night, and lost themselves amidst the depths of the woods. ‘But, & I am guilty—it Ihave committed the crimes of which you aceuse me,’ howled oat her ladyship, “ take me before a renee) een You are not judges—you have no wer to conde re!’ “1 did propose yey omer Lord de Winter; “ why ‘ou not acce ag Because Ido not wish to die,” exclaimed her ladyship, ling, “ because I am too young to die!” at , “Phe woman whom you poisoned at Bethune. was still younger than you are, madam; aud yet she is dead,” said A “I will “extort a convent; Iwill become a nun,” cried her dadyzhip *' You were in a convent,” said the executlomer, “and you left 1. to destoy my brother.” Her ladyship sent forth acry of terror, and fell upon her knees. The executioner lifted her in his arms, and prepared to carry her to the boat. **Oh, my God!’ exclaimed she, “ my God, are you going to drown me?" These cries had something so heartrending in them, that d’Artagnan, who was at first the most unrelenting in his pur- suit of her ladyship, sunk down upon the stump of a tree, letting his head fall on his bosom, and stopping his ears with the palms of his hands; and yet, in spite of ali thia, he still beard her menaces and cries, Frrg boy was the youngest of all these men, and his heart failed him. “Oh! I cannot bear this frightful spectacile,"’ said he; “I eannot consent that this woman should die thus." Her ladyship heard these words, and they ave her a new gleam of hope. ‘‘ D’Artagnan, d‘Artagnan!’’ exclaimed she, ** remember that once I loved you!}!’ The young man rose, and made one step towards her. But Athos drew his sword, and placed himself in his path. “If you take one step more, d’Artagnan,’’ saki he, “ we must cross our swords together.”’ D’Art an fel) on his knees and prayed. “Come,” continued Athos, * executioner, * do your duty!” **Willingly, my lord,” replied the executioner; “ for as truly as I am a good catholic, I firmly believe that I act justly in exercising my office on this woman.”’ * That isright."’ Athos took one step towards her ladyship. a iggy hay said he, ** the evil you have done me. I for- give you for my futurity crushed, my honor lost, my love tainted, and oe salvation forever perilled, by the despair into which you have thrown me. Die in peace."’ Lord de Winter next came forward, “I pardon you,” said he, “the poisoning of my brother, the assassination of the Duke of Buckingham, and the death of poor Dalton. I for- give you your attempts on my own person. Fen peace!" ‘“As for me,” said d’Artagnan, ‘‘ pardon me, madam, for having, by a deceit unworthy of a gentleman, provoked your rage; ate | in exchange, I pardon you for the murder of my poor friend, and your cruel vengeance on, myself. and I pity you. ie in peace!” ‘* Tam lost /’’ murmured her ladyship, in English—* J mast die |!” She then arose by herself, and threw around her one of those clear glances, which seemed to emanate from an eye of fire. But she could see nothing. She listened; but she heard nothing. There were none around her but enemies, ** Where am I to die tf’ demanded she. **On the other bank of the river,” replied the executioner. He,then made her enter the boat; and, as he was stepping in after her, Athos gave him a sum of money. “Here,” said he, *‘ here's the price of the execution, that it may be seen that we are really judges.” “It is well,” said the executioner; “ but let this woman now know that Iam not executing business, but my duty.” And he threw the money from him into the river. I pardon The boat proceeded toward the left bank of the Lys, carry- ing away the criminal and the executioner. All the 2 n their continued on the a bank, where they had sunk u knees. The boat glided slowly along the rope of the ferry, under the reflection of a pale mist, which skimmed the water at that moment, I arrived at the other bank, and the two figures stood out in blackness on the red horizon. During the passage, her ladyship had managed to loosen the cord that bound her feet, and on reaching the bank, she eares light on shore and took to flight. But the ground was moist; and, at the top of the shelving bank, she slipped and fell upon her knees. bal, a& Superalitious idea had struck her. She understood that Heaven refused to ald her, and remained in the attitude in which she had fallen, her head drooping and her hands clasped together. Then, from the other shore, they could see the executioner slowly raise his two arms, a ray of the moon was reflected on the blade of his large sword, the two arms descended, ozs! | heard the whist- ling of the cimeter and the cry of the victim; and thena mutilated mass sunk down beneath the blow. The execu- tioner took off his red cloak, stretched it out on the ground, laid the body on It, and threw tn the head, tied it by the four alge, Saree itupon his shoulders, and again entered the boat. Having reached the middle of the Lys, he stopped the boat and holding his burden over the river, ** Let the justice of God have its course!’ he exclaimed, in a loud voice. And, so saying, he dropped the dead body into the deepest part of the waters, which closed above it. CHAPTER LXIV, A MESSAGE FROM THE CARDINAL, THREE days aiterwards the four musketeers re-entered Par- is. They were within the limit of their leave, and, the same evening, they went to pay the usual visit to M. de Treville. “Well, gentlemen,’ inquired the brave captain, “have you found good amusements in your excursion?” ** Prodigiously so!” replied Athos, in his own name and that of his companions. On the sixth of the following month the king, a¢cording to his promise to the cardinal to return to Rochelle, quitted Paris, still quite stunned by the news that Buckingham had been assassinated, which was beginning to circulate in the city. Although warned ofa en ye inthe path of a man whom she had so truly loved, yet the queen, when his death was announced to her, would ‘not. believe it; she had even the imprudence to exclaim: “It is false! He has just written to me bd But the next day there was no refusing credence to this fatal news. Laporte having, like everyone else, been de- tained by the order of Charles L, at length arrived, end brought with him the last dying gitt which Buckingham ha sent to the queen, The king’s joy had been extreme. He did not take the slightest pains to disguise it, but manifested it affectedly be- fore the queen. Louis XIII, like all men of weak hearts, was wanting in peperce But the king soon again became melancholy and ill. His brow was not one of those that can continue long unruffled; he felt that, in returning to the camp, he returned to mayer and yet he did return there. The cardinal was, to him, the fascinating serpent; and he was the bird that flies from bough to bough without a poasi- bility of making his escape. The return to la Rochelle was,”"therefore, profoundly sad, Our four friends, especially, excited the astonishment of their companions; they traveled sidé by side, with heavy eyes and heads depressed.” Athos alone sometimes raised his broad forehead; a glance shot from his eye, a bitter smile passed across his lips, and then, like his comrades, he sunk in into his reveries. As soon as they arrived in any town, when they had conducted the king to his departments, the four iends withdrew, either to their own lodgings or to some secluded tavern, where they neither played nor drank, but spoke in a low voice together, and looked attentively that none might hear them, One day that the king had halted to hunt the magpie, and the four friends, according to their custom, instead of joining in the sport, had stopped at a tavern by the roadside, a man, who was coming post from la Rochelle, stopped at the door to drink a glass of wine, and looked into the chamber where the four musketeers were seated at a table, ‘Europe pee M. d’Artagnan,” said he, “is it you that I see ere?’’ D'Artagnan raised his head and uttered an exclamation joy. This man, who now called him, was bis phantom: ft waa the stranger of ray} of the rue des Fossoyeurs and of Arras. D'Artagnan drew his sword and rushed towards the door. But on this occasion the stranger, instead of hasten. ing away, jumped off his horse and advanced to meet d’Ar- tagnan. “Wan | sir,” said the young man, *‘ I meet you at last, This time you shall not eacape me.”’ ** It is not my intention, either, sir, for I am looking for you this time. In the king's name, I arrest you!”’ **What do you mean!" exelaimed d’A nan, **T say that you must give up your sword to me, afr, and without resistance, too. Your life depends apor it, T assure you.” : ** Who are you, then?"’ demanded d’Artagnan, lowering hie sword, but not he giving it up. ‘*l am the Chevalier de Rochefort,’ said the atranger, ‘*the Cardinal! de Richeheu's master of the horse, and lam commanded to conduct you before his emtnence.”’ ** We are now returning near his eminence, sir,” said Athoa coming forward, “‘and you must take M, d’Artagnan's word that he wil! go direct to la helle.” **T ought to place him in the hands of the guards, who will conduct him back to the camp.” ‘**We will serve as such. sir, on our words as gentiemen| Bnt on our words as gentlemen, also,’’ continued Athoa, frowning, ‘* M. d'Artagnan shal! not be taken from ua” De Rochefort threw a glance around him, and aaw that Porthos and Aramis had placed themselves between him and the door; and he understood that he was entirely at the mercy of these four men. **Gentiemen,” sald he, “if ML play ‘ge will deliver up his sword, and join his word te ours, I will be contented with your promise ef conducting im to the quarters of his eminence the cardinal.” . ee have my word, sir, and here is my sword,” said ‘Artagnan. **That suits me so much the better,”’ said Rochefort, “* for I muat continue my journey. “If it is to rejoin her ladyship,”’ sald Athos, coolly, ‘1t la useless; you will not find her.” . And what has become of her?” asked Rochefort, anx- 1ously, ** Return to the one and you will learn.” Rochefort remained in thought for an inatant; and then, as they were only one day's journey from Sargeras, wee the cardinal was to meet the king, he resolved follow Athoa's advice, and to return with them. Besides, this plan had the further advantage of enabling him, personally, to watch the prisoner, Thus they proceeded on their way. The next day, at three in the afternoon, they reached Sur- geres. The cardinal was walting there for Loula XIII. The minister and the king exchanged thelr caresses Goowi and congratulated each other on the happy chance which had freed France from the inveterate enemy who was arming ainst her. After this, the cardinal, who had been informed by Rochefort ‘that d’Artagnan had been i and who was in haste to interrogate him, took leave of the king, inviting his majesty to go the next day to see the works at the embankment, which were at laat complete. On returning in the evening to his quarters, near the Pont de Pierre, the cardinal found the three musketeers all armed; and d’A nan, who was without his sword, standing betore the door of the house which he inhabited. On this as he had all his strength about him, he looked sternly them, and made a sign with his eye and hand for d'Artagnan to follow him. D'Artagnan ones : ‘“‘We will wait for you, d’Artagnan,’’ sald Athos, loud enough for the cardinal to hear. His eminence knitted his brow, stopped for an instant, and then went on, without series a single word. D'Artagnan entered behind the cardinal, and Rochefort fol- lowed d'Artagnan: the door was ls eminence en- tered the chamber whichhe made use of asa cabinet, and signed to Rochefort to introduce the young musketeer, Rehoefort obeyed, and retired. D'Artagnan etood alone before the cardinal. It was his second interview with Richelieu; and he afterwards con- fessed that he felt quite convinced that it was to be hia laat. Richelieu remained leaning upon the chimney-piece, and there was a table standing between him and d’A **Sir,’’ sald the cardinal, ‘you have been arres orders."’ **T have been informed so, my lord.”’ **Do you know why ?"’ **No, my lord; for the only — for which I ought to be arrested, is yet unknown to your eminence.”’ Richelleu looked earnestly at the young man.| ** Hallo!’ said he, ‘** what does this mean?” “If your eminence will first tell me the charges against me, I will afterwards tell you what I have done.”’ ‘There are crimes imputed to you which have cost the hese of people higher far than you are,’ replied the cardi. nal. by my ‘*And what are they, my lord?" demanded d’ >< with a calmness which surprised even the cardinal himself. “You accused of fy Re eoge | with the enemies of the realm ; of having pryed into th having attempted to make our general's plans miscarry.’’ ** And who is my accuser, my lord f”’ inquired d’Artagnan, who had no doubt that it was her ladyship : “a woman brand. ect by the justice ot her country—a woman who was married to one man in France, and to anotherin England—a woman who did poison her second husband, and attempted to poison me!’’ ‘* What are you saying, sir?” exclaimed the astonished car- dinal, ‘and of what woman are you thus speaking?” ‘Of Lady de Winter,” replied d'Artagnan; ‘yes, of Lady de Winter—of whose crimes your eminence was undoubtedly ignorant when you honored her with your confidence.” **Sir,”’ said the cardinal, “if Lady de Winter haa been guil- ty of the crimes you have mentioned, she shall be punt - **She is punished, my lord!’ * And who has punished her?’* ** We have.” ** She is in prison, then!” “She is dead.” ‘* Dead!" repeated the cardinal, who could not credit what he heard; ‘‘dead!"’ Did you not say that she was dead?” “Three times had she endeavored to kill me, and I forgayp her; butshe murdered the woman I loved; and then friends and I seized her, tried her, and condemned her,” D’Artagnan then related the poisoning of Madame Bona