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Chapter XXXI
Chapter XXXI
English And French
The hour being come, they, with their four lackeys, repaired to a spot
behind the Luxembourg given up to the feeding of goats. Athos threw a piece
of money to the goat-keeper to remove his flock to a distance. The lackeys
were charged to act as sentinels.
A silent party soon drew near to the same enclosure, penetrated into it,
and joined the musketeers: then, according to the English custom, the
presentations took place.
The Englishmen were all men of rank; consequently, the extraordinary
names of their adversaries were, for them, not only a matter of surprise, but
of uneasiness.
"But, after all this," said Lord de Winter, when the three friends had
been named, "we do not know who you are; as gentlemen, we cannot fight with
such; why, they are nothing but shepherd`s names."
"Therefore your lordship may suppose they are only assumed names," said
Athos.
"Which only gives us a greater desire to know the real ones," replied
milord.
"You gambled very willingly with us without knowing our names," said
Athos, "as is plain by your having won our horses."
"That is true, but we then only risked our pistoles; this time we risk
our blood: we play with anybody, but we only fight with our equals."
"And that is but just," said Athos, and he took aside that one of the
four Englishmen with whom he was to fight, and communicated his name in a low
voice.
Porthos and Aramis did the same.
"Does that satisfy you?" said Athos to his adversary; "do you think me
sufficiently noble to do me the honor of crossing swords with me?"
"Yes, monsieur," said the Englishman, bowing.
"Well! now shall I tell you another thing?" said Athos coolly.
"What is that?" replied the Englishman.
"Why, that is, that you would have acted much more wisely if you had not
required me to make myself known."
"Why so?"
"Because I am believed to be dead, and have reason for wishing nobody
should know I am living, so that I shall be obliged to kill you to prevent
my secret getting wind."
The Englishman looked at Athos, believing that he was joking, but Athos
was not joking the least in the world.
"Gentlemen," said Athos, addressing at the same time his companions and
their adversaries, "are we ready?"
"Yes!" answered the Englishmen and the Frenchmen, as with one voice.
"Guard, then!" cried Athos.
And immediately eight swords glittered in the rays of the setting sun,
and the combat began with an animosity very natural to men who had been twice
enemies.
Athos fenced with as much calmness and method as if he had been
practicing in a school.
Porthos, corrected, no doubt, of his too great confidence by his
adventure of Chantilly, played with finesse and prudence.
Aramis, who had the third canto of his poem to finish made all the
dispatch of a man very much pressed for time.
Athos, the first, killed his adversary: he hit him but once, but, as he
had foretold, that hit was a mortal one - the sword passed through his heart.
Porthos, the second, stretched his upon the grass, with a wound through
his thigh; and as the Englishman, without making any further resistance, then
surrendered his sword, Porthos took him up in his arms and carried him to his
carriage.
Aramis pushed his so vigorously that after going back many paces, he
finished by fairly taking to his heels, and disappeared amid the hooting of
the lackeys.
As to D`Artagnan, he fought purely and simply on the defensive; and when
he saw his adversary pretty well fatigued, with a vigorous side-thrust he
twisted the sword from his grasp, and sent it glittering into the air. The
baron finding himself disarmed, gave two or three paces back, but in this
movement, his foot slipped and he fell.
D`Artagnan was over him at a bound, and pointing his sword to his
throat:
"I could kill you, milord," said he to the Englishman; "you are
completely at my mercy, but I spare your life for the sake of your sister."
D`Artagnan was at the height of joy; he had realized the plan which he
had fancied, the development of which had produced the smiles upon his face
we mentioned.
The Englishman, delighted at having to do with a gentleman of such a
kind disposition, pressed D`Artagnan in his arms and paid a thousand
compliments to the three musketeers, and as Porthos` adversary was already
installed in the carriage, and as Aramis` had run away, they had nothing to
think about but the defunct.
As Porthos and Aramis were undressing him in the hope of finding his
wound not mortal, a large purse dropped from his clothes. D`Artagnan picked
it up and held it out to Lord de Winter.
"What the devil would you have me to do with that?" said the Englishman.
"You can restore it to his family," said D`Artagnan.
"His family will care vastly about such a trifle as that! his family
will inherit fifteen thousand louis a year from him: keep the purse for your
lackeys.
D`Artagnan put the purse into his pocket.
"And now, my young friend, if you will permit me, I hope to give you
that name," said Lord de Winter, "on this very evening, if agreeable to you,
I will present you to my sister, Lady Clarik; for I am desirous that she
should take you into her good graces; and as she is not in bad odor at court,
she may perhaps, on some future day, speak a word that will not prove useless
to you.
D`Artagnan blushed with pleasure, and bowed a sign of assent.
At this time Athos came up io D`Artagnan:
"What do you mean to do with that purse?" whispered he.
"Why, I meant to pass it over to you, my dear Athos."
"Me? why to me?"
"The devil! why you killed him, didn`t you? They are the spolia
opima."
"I, the heir of an enemy!" said Athos, "for whom then do you take me?"
"It is the custom in war," said D`Artagnan, "why should it not be the
custom in a duel?"
"Even on the field of battle, I have never done that."
Porthos shrugged his shoulders; Aramis by a movement of his lips
applauded the opinion of Athos.
"Then, said D`Artagnan, "let us give the money to the lackeys, as Lord
de Winter desired us to do."
"Yes," said Athos, "let us give the money to the lackeys, but not to our
lackeys, to the lackeys of the Englishmen."
Athos took the purse, and threw it into the hand of the coachman.
"For you and your comrades," said he.
This greatness of spirit in a man who was quite destitute, struck even
Porthos, and this trait of French generosity repeated by Lord de Winter and
his friend, was highly applauded by every one, except MM. Grimaud, Bazin,
Mousqueton, and Planchet.
Lord de Winter, on quitting D`Artagnan, gave him his sister`s address;
she lived, No. 6, Place Royale, then the fashionable quarter, and undertook
to call and take him with him in order to introduce him. D`Artagnan
appointed eight o`clock at Athos` residence.
This introduction to Lady Clarik occupied the head of our Gascon
greatly. He remembered in what a strange manner this woman had hitherto been
mixed up in his destiny. According to his conviction, she was some creature
of the cardinal`s, and yet he felt himself invincibly drawn toward her by one
of those sentiments for which we cannot account. His only fear was that
milady would recognize in him the man of Meung and of Dover. Then she knew
that he was one of the friends of M. de Treville, and, consequently, that he
belonged body and soul eo the king, which would make him lose a part of his
advantage, since when known to milady as he knew her, he played only an equal
game with her. As to the commencement of an intrigue between her and M. de
Wardes, our presumptuous hero gave but little heed to that although the
marquis was young, handsome, rich, and high in the cardinal`s favor. It is
not for nothing we are but twenty years old, particularly if we were born
at Tarbes.
D`Artagnan began by making his most splendid toilette; then returned to
Athos`, and, according to custom, related everything to him. Athos listened
attentively to his projects; then, shook his head, and recommended prudence
to him with a shade of bitterness.
"What!" said he, "you have just lost one woman, who, you say, was good,
charming, perfect, and here you are, running headlong after another!"
D`Artagnan felt the truth of this reproach.
"I loved Madame Bonacieux with my heart, while I only love milady with
my head," said he; "by getting introduced to her, my principal object is to
ascertain what part she plays at court."
"The part she plays at court, pardieu! it is not difficult to divine
that after all you have told me. She is some emissary of the cardinal`s; a
woman who will draw you into a snare, in which you will leave your head."
"The devil! my dear Athos, you view things on the dark side, methinks."
"D`Artagnan, I mistrust women: can it be otherwise! I bought my
experience dearly - particularly fair women. Milady is fair, you say?"
"She has the most beautiful light hair imaginable!"
"Ah! my poor D`Artagnan!" said Athos.
"Well, but listen to me: I want to be enlightened on a subject: then,
when I shall have learned what I desire to know, I will withdraw."
"Be enlightened!" said Athos phlegmatically.
Lord de Winter arrived at the appointed time, but Athos, being warned
of his coming, went into the other chamber. He found D`Artagnan alone then,
and as it was nearly eight o`clock, he took the young man with him.
An elegant carriage waited below, and as it was drawn by two excellent
horses, they were soon at the Place Royale.
Milady Clarik received D`Artagnan ceremoniously. Her hotel was
remarkably sumptuous; and, while the most part of the English had quitted,
or were about to quit France, on account of the war, milady had just been
laying out much money upon her residence; which proved that the general
measure which drove the English from France did not affect her.
"You see," said Lord de Winter, presenting D`Artagnan to his sister, "a
young gentleman who has held my life in his hands, and who has not abused his
advantage, although we had been twice enemies, although it was I who insulted
him, and although I am an Englishman. Thank him then, madame, if you have
any affection for me."
Milady frowned slightly, a scarcely visible cloud passed over her brow,
and so peculiar a smile appeared upon her lips that the young man who saw and
observed this triple shade almost shuddered at it.
The brother did not perceive this; he had turned round to play with
milady`s favorite monkey, which had pulled him by the doublet.
"You are welcome, monsieur," said milady, in a voice whose singular
sweetness contrasted with the symptoms of ill-humor which D`Artagnan had just
remarked - "you have to-day acquired eternal rights to my gratitude."
The Englishman then turned round, and described the combat without
omitting a single detail. Milady listened with the greatest attention, and
yet it was easily to be perceived, whatever effort she made to conceal her
impressions, that this recital was not agreeable to her. The blood rose to
her head, and her little foot worked with impatience beneath her robe.
Lord de Winter perceived nothing of this. When he had finished, he went
to a table upon which was a salver with Spanish wine and glasses. He filled
two, and by a sign, invited D`Artagnan to drink.
D`Artagnan knew it was considered disobliging by an Englishman to refuse
to pledge him; therefore, drew near to the table, and took the second glass.
He did not, however, lose sight of milady, and in a mirror perceived the
change that took place in her face. Now that she believed herself to be no
longer observed, a sentiment which resembled ferocity animated her
countenance. She bit her handkerchief with all her might.
That pretty little soubrette that D`Artagnan had already observed, then
came in; she spoke some words to Lord de Winter in English; and he
immediately requested D`Artagnan`s permission to retire, excusing himself on
account of the urgency of the business that called him away, and charging his
sister to obtain his pardon.
D`Artagnan exchanged a shake of the hand with Lord de Winter, and then
returned to milady. Her countenance, with surprising mobility, had recovered
its gracious expression, but some little red spots upon her handkerchief
indicated that she had bitten her lips till the blood came. Those lips were
magnificent! they might be said to be of coral.
The conversation took a cheerful turn. Milady appeared to be entirely
recovered. She told D`Artagnan that Lord de Winter was her brother-in-law,
and not her brother; she had married a younger brother of the family, who had
left her a widow with one child. This child was the only heir to Lord de
Winter, if Lord de Winter did not marry. All this showed D`Artagnan that
there was a veil which enveloped something, but he could not yet see under
this veil.
In addition to this, after half an hour`s conversation, D`Artagnan was
convinced that milady was his compatriot; she spoke French with an elegance
and a purity that left no doubt on that head.
D`Artagnan was profuse in gallant speeches and protestations of
devotedness. To all the simple things which escaped our Gascon, milady
replied with a smile of kindness. The hour for retiring arrived. D`Artagnan
took leave of milady, and left the salon the happiest of men.
Upon the stairs he met the pretty soubrette, who brushed gently against
him as she passed, and then, blushing to the eyes, asked his pardon for
having touched him, in a voice so sweet that the pardon was granted
instantly.
D`Artagnan came again on the morrow, and was still better received than
on the day before. Lord de Winter was not at home, and it was milady who
this time did all the honors of the evening. She appeared to take a great
interest in him, asked him whence he came, who were his friends, and whether
he had not at some time thought of attaching himself to M. le Cardinal.
D`Artagnan who, as we have said, was exceedingly prudent for a young man
of twenty, then remembered his suspicions regarding milady; he launched into
an eulogy of his eminence, and said that he should not have failed to enter
into the guards of the cardinal instead of the king`s guards, if he had
happened to know M. de Cavois instead of M. de Treville.
Milady changed the conversation without any appearance of affectation,
and asked D`Artagnan in the most careless manner possible, if he had never
been in England.
D`Artagnan replied that he had been sent thither by M. de Treville, to
treat for a number of horses, and that he had brought back four as specimens.
Milady, in the course of her conversation, twice or thrice bit her lips;
she had to deal with a Gascon who played close.
At the same hour as the preceding evening D`Artagnan retired. In the
corridor he again met the pretty Kitty; that was the name of the soubrette.
She looked at him with an expression of kindness which it was impossible to
mistake. But D`Artagnan was so preoccupied by the mistress that he remarked
nothing but her.
D`Artagnan came again on the morrow and the day after that, and each day
milady gave him a more gracious welcome.
Every evening, either in the antechamber, the corridor, or on the
stairs, he met the pretty soubrette. But, as we have said, D`Artagnan paid
no attention to this.
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