|
Chapter XVIII
Chapter XVIII
The Lover And The Husband
"Ah! madame," said D`Artagnan, as he entered by the door which the
young woman had opened for him, "allow me to tell you that you have a bad
sort of a husband there!"
"You have then overhead our conversation?" asked Madame Bonacieux
eagerly, and looking at D`Artagnan with much uneasiness.
"The whole of it."
"But how, my God! could you do that?"
"By a mode of proceeding known to myself, and by which I likewise
overheard the more animated conversation which you had with the cardinal`s
sbirri."
"And what did you understand by what you heard us say?"
"A thousand things; in the first place that, fortunately, your husband
is a simpleton and a fool; in the next place you are in trouble, of which I
am very glad, as it gives me an opportunity of placing myself at your
service, and God knows I am ready to throw myself into the fire for you; and
that the queen wants a brave, intelligent, devoted man to make a journey to
London for her. I have, at least, two of the qualities you stand in need of
- and here I am."
Madame Bonacieux made no reply, but her heart beat with joy, and secret
hope shone in her eyes.
"And what pledge can you give me," asked she, "if I consent to confide
this message to you?"
"My love for you. Speak! command! What must I do?"
"My God! my God!" murmured the young woman, "ought I to confide such
a secret to you, monsieur? You are almost a boy!"
"I suppose, then, you require some one to answer for me?"
"I admit that that would reassure me greatly."
"Do you know Athos?"
"No."
"Porthos?"
"No."
"Aramis?"
"No; who are these gentlemen?"
"Three of the king`s musketeers. Do you know M. de Treville, their
captain?"
"Oh! yes, him, I know him; not personally, but from having heard the
queen speak of him more than once as a brave and loyal gentleman."
"You are not afraid that he would betray you for the sake of the
cardinal?"
"Oh! no, certainly."
"Well, reveal your secret to him, and ask him, whether, however
important, however valuable, however terrible it may be, you may not safely
confide it to me."
"But this secret is not mine, and I cannot reveal it in this manner."
"Why, you were going to confide it to M. Bonacieux," said D`Artagnan,
with an offended tone.
"As we confide a letter to the hollow of a tree, to the wing of a
pigeon, or the collar of a dog."
"And yet me - you see plainly that I love you."
"You say so."
"I am an honorable man."
"I believe so."
"I am brave."
"Oh! I am sure of that."
"Then, put me to the proof."
Madame Bonacieux looked at the young man, restrained for a minute by a
last hesitation; but there was such an ardor in his eyes, such persuasion in
his voice, that she felt herself drawn on to place confidence in him.
Besides, she was in one of those circumstances in which everything must be
risked for the sake of everything. The queen also might be as much injured
by too much discretion as by too much confidence - and let us admit it, the
involuntary sentiment which she felt for her young protector, compelled her
to speak.
"Listen," said she, "I yield to your protestations, I yield to your
assurances. But I swear to you, before God who hears us, that if you betray
me, and my enemies pardon me, I will kill myself, while accusing you of my
death."
"And I, I swear to you before God, madame," said D`Artagnan, "that if
I am taken while accomplishing the orders you give me, I will die sooner than
do anything, or say anything, that may compromise any one."
Then the young woman confided to him the terrible secret of which chance
had already communicated to him a part, in front of the Samaritaine.
This was their mutual declaration of love.
D`Artagnan was radiant with joy and pride. This secret which he
possessed, this woman whom he loved! Confidence and love made him a giant.
"I will go," said he, "I will go at once."
"How! you will go!" said Madame Bonacieux; "and your regiment, your
captain?"
"By my soul, you have made me forget all that, dear Constance! Yes, you
are right, I must obtain leave of absence."
"There is still another obstacle," murmured Madame Bonacieux
sorrowfully.
"Whatever it may be," cried D`Artagnan, after a moment of reflection,
"I shall surmount it, be assured."
"How?"
"I will go this very evening to M. de Treville, whom I will request to
ask this favor for me of his brother-in-law, M. Dessessarts."
"But still, there is another thing."
"What is that?" asked D`Artagnan, seeing that Madame Bonacieux hesitated
to continue.
"You have, perhaps, no money?"
"Perhaps is too much," said D`Artagnan, smiling.
"Then," replied Madame Bonacieux, opening a cupboard and taking from it
the very bag which half an hour before her husband had caressed so
affectionately, "take this bag."
"The cardinal`s!" cried D`Artagnan, breaking into a loud laugh, he
having heard, as may be remembered, thanks to his broken floor, every
syllable of the conversation between the mercer and his wife.
"The cardinal`s," replied Madame Bonacieux; "you see it makes a very
respectable appearance."
"Pardieu!" cried D`Artagnan, "it will be a doubly amusing affair to save
the queen with the cardinal`s money!"
"You are an amiable and a charming young man!" said Madame Bonacieux.
"Be assured you will not find her majesty ungrateful."
"Oh! I am already more than recompensed!" cried D`Artagnan. "I love
you; you permit me to tell you that I do; that is already more happiness than
I dared to hope for."
"Silence!" said Madame Bonacieux, starting.
"What!"
"Some one is talking in the street."
"It is the voice of - "
"Of my husband! Oh! yes; I recognized it!"
D`Artagnan ran to the door and drew the bolt.
"He shall not come in before I am gone," said he; "and when I am gone,
you can open the door for him."
"But I ought to be gone, too. And the disappearance of his money, how
am I to justify it, if I am here?"
"You are right; you must go out."
"Go out? How? He will see us if we go out."
"Then you must come up into my room."
"Ah!" said Madame Bonacieux, "you speak that in a tone that terrifies
me!"
Madame Bonacieux pronounced these words with tears in her eyes.
D`Artagnan saw those tears, and much disturbed, softened, he threw himself
at her feet.
"In my apartment you will be as safe as in a temple; I give you my word
of a gentleman."
"Let us go, then, I place full confidence in you, my friend!"
D`Artagnan drew back the bolt with precaution, and both, light as
shadows, glided through the interior door into the passage, ascended the
stairs as quietly as possible, and entered D`Artagnan`s apartment.
Once in his apartment, for greater security, the young man barricaded
the door. They both went up to the window, and through a slit in the
shutter, they saw M. Bonacieux talking with a man in a cloak.
At the sight of this man, D`Artagnan started, half drew his sword, and
sprang toward the door.
It was the man of Meung.
"What are you going to do?" cried Madame Bonacieux; "you will ruin us
all!"
"But I have sworn to kill that man!" said D`Artagnan.
"At this time your life is devoted, and does not belong to you! In the
name of the queen I forbid you to throw yourself into any danger which is
foreign to that of your voyage!"
"And do you command nothing in your own name?"
"In my name?" said Madame Bonacieux, with great emotion; "In my name I
beg you! But listen; they appear to be speaking of me."
D`Artagnan drew near the window, and listened.
M. Bonacieux had opened his door, and seeing the apartment empty, had
returned to the man in the cloak, whom he had left alone for an instant.
"She is gone," said he; "she must be gone back to the Louvre."
"You are sure," replied the stranger, "that she did not suspect the
intention you went out with?"
"No," replied Bonacieux, with a self-sufficient air, "she is too
superficial a woman."
"Is the young guardsman at home?"
"I do not think he is; as you see, his shutter is closed, and there is
no light through the chinks of the shutters."
"That`s true; but it`s as well to be certain."
"How can we be so?"
"By knocking at his door."
"Go."
"I will ask his servant."
Bonacieux went into the house again, passed through the same door that
had afforded a passage for the two fugitives, went up to D`Artagnan`s door,
and knocked.
No one answered. Porthos, to make a greater display, had that evening
borrowed Planchet. As to D`Artagnan, he took care not to give the least sign
of existence.
At the moment the finger of Bonacieux sounded on the door, the two young
people felt their hearts bound within them.
"There is nobody within," said Bonacieux.
"Never mind; let us walk into your apartment; we shall be better there
than in the doorway."
"Oh! Good God!" whispered Madame Bonacieux, we shall hear no more."
"On the contrary," said D`Artagnan, "we shall hear the better."
D`Artagnan raised the three or four boards which made another Dionysius`
ear of his chamber, spread a carpet, went down upon his knees, and made a
sign to Madame Bonacieux to do as he did, stooping down toward the opening.
"You are sure there is nobody there?" said the unknown.
"I will answer for it," said Bonacieux.
"And you think that your wife - "
"Is returned to the Louvre."
"Without speaking to any one but yourself?"
"I am sure of it."
"Please to understand, that is an important point."
"Then the news I brought you is valuable?"
"Very, my dear Bonacieux; I don`t attempt to deny it."
"Then the cardinal will be pleased with me?"
"No doubt he will."
"Are you sure, that in her conversation with you, your wife mentioned
no proper names?"
"I don`t think she did."
"She did not name Madame de Chevreuse, the Duke of Buckingham, or Madame
de Vernet?"
"No; she only told me she wished to send me to London, to further the
interests of an illustrious personage."
"Oh! the traitor!" murmured Madame Bonacieux.
"Silence!" whispered D`Artagnan, taking a hand, which, without thinking
of it, she suffered him to retain.
"Never mind," continued the man in the cloak; "it was very silly of you
not to have feigned to accept the mission; you would now be in possession of
the letter; the state, which is now threatened, would be safe; and you - "
"And I?"
"Well, you! The cardinal would have given you letters of nobility."
"Did he tell you so?"
"Yes, I know that he meant to afford you that agreeable surprise."
"Be satisfied," replied Bonacieux; "my wife adores me, and there is
still plenty of time."
"The silly fool!" murmured Madame Bonacieux.
"Silence!" said D`Artagnan, pressing her hand more closely.
"What do you mean by its being still time?" asked the man in the cloak.
"I will go to the Louvre, I will ask for Madame Bonacieux, I will tell
her I have reflected upon the matter, I will renew the affair, I will obtain
the letter, and I will run directly to the cardinal`s."
"Well! begone then! make all possible haste: I will shortly come back
to learn the result of your plan."
The unknown went out.
"Base old fool!" said Madame Bonacieux, addressing this affectionate
epithet to her husband.
"Silence, once more!" said D`Artagnan, pressing her hand still more
warmly.
A terrible howling interrupted these reflections of D`Artagnan and
Madame Bonacieux. It was her husband, who had discovered the disappearance
of his money bag, and was screaming out, "Thieves! thieves!"
"Oh! good God," cried Madame Bonacieux, "he will rouse the whole
quarter."
Bonacieux cried for a long time; but, as such cries, on account of their
frequency, did not attract much notice in the Rue des Fossoyeurs, and as
lately the mercer`s house had not been in very good repute, finding that
nobody came, he went out, crying aloud, his voice being heard fainter and
fainter, in the direction of the Rue du Bac.
"Now he is gone, it is your turn to get out," said Madame Bonacieux:
"courage, my friend, but, above all, prudence, and think what you owe to the
queen!"
"To her and to you!" cried D`Artagnan. "Be satisfied, lovely Constance.
I shall prove worthy of her gratitude; but shall I likewise return worthy of
your love?"
The young woman only replied by the beautiful glow which mounted to her
cheeks. A few seconds after, D`Artagnan went out in his turn, enveloped
likewise in a large cloak, which ill-concealed the sheath of a long sword.
Madame Bonacieux followed him with her eyes, with that long, fond look
with which a woman accompanies the man she loves; but when he had turned the
angle of the street, she fell on her knees, and clasping her hands:
"Oh! my God!" cried she, "protect the queen, protect me!"
|
