31 ENGLISH AND FRENCH
The hour having come, they went with their four lackeys to a spot behindthe Luxembourg given up to the feeding of goats. Athos threw a piece ofmoney to the goatkeeper to withdraw. The lackeys were ordered to act assentinels.
A silent party soon drew near to the same enclosure, entered, and joinedthe Musketeers. Then, according to foreign custom, the presentationstook place.
The Englishmen were all men of rank; consequently the odd names of theiradversaries were for them not only a matter of surprise, but ofannoyance.
"But after all," said Lord de Winter, when the three friends had beennamed, "we do not know who you are. We cannot fight with such names;they are names of shepherds."
"Therefore your lordship may suppose they are only assumed names," saidAthos.
"Which only gives us a greater desire to know the real ones," repliedthe Englishman.
"You played very willingly with us without knowing our names," saidAthos, "by the same token that you won our horses."
"That is true, but we then only risked our pistoles; this time we riskour blood. One plays with anybody; but one fights only with equals."
"And that is but just," said Athos, and he took aside the one of thefour Englishmen with whom he was to fight, and communicated his name ina low voice.
Porthos and Aramis did the same.
"Does that satisfy you?" said Athos to his adversary. "Do you find me ofsufficient rank to do me the honor of crossing swords with me?"
"Yes, monsieur," said the Englishman, bowing.
"Well! now shall I tell you something?" added Athos, coolly.
"What?" replied the Englishman.
"Why, that is that you would have acted much more wisely if you had notrequired me to make myself known."
"Why so?"
"Because I am believed to be dead, and have reasons for wishing nobodyto know I am living; so that I shall be obliged to kill you to preventmy secret from roaming over the fields."
The Englishman looked at Athos, believing that he jested, but Athos didnot jest the least in the world.
"Gentlemen," said Athos, addressing at the same time his companions andtheir adversaries, "are we ready?"
"Yes!" answered the Englishmen and the Frenchmen, as with one voice.
"On guard, then!" cried Athos.
Immediately eight swords glittered in the rays of the setting sun, andthe combat began with an animosity very natural between men twiceenemies.
Athos fenced with as much calmness and method as if he had beenpracticing in a fencing school.
Porthos, abated, no doubt, of his too-great confidence by his adventureof Chantilly, played with skill and prudence. Aramis, who had the thirdcanto of his poem to finish, behaved like a man in haste.
Athos killed his adversary first. He hit him but once, but as he hadforetold, that hit was a mortal one; the sword pierced his heart.
Second, Porthos stretched his upon the grass with a wound through histhigh, As the Englishman, without making any further resistance, thensurrendered his sword, Porthos took him up in his arms and bore him tohis carriage.
Aramis pushed his so vigorously that after going back fifty paces, theman ended by fairly taking to his heels, and disappeared amid thehooting of the lackeys.
As to d'Artagnan, he fought purely and simply on the defensive; and whenhe saw his adversary pretty well fatigued, with a vigorous side thrustsent his sword flying. The baron, finding himself disarmed, took two orthree steps back, but in this movement his foot slipped and he fellbackward.
D'Artagnan was over him at a bound, and said to the Englishman, pointinghis sword to his throat, "I could kill you, my Lord, you are completelyin my hands; but I spare your life for the sake of your sister."
D'Artagnan was at the height of joy; he had realized the plan he hadimagined beforehand, whose picturing had produced the smiles we notedupon his face.
The Englishman, delighted at having to do with a gentleman of such akind disposition, pressed d'Artagnan in his arms, and paid a thousandcompliments to the three Musketeers, and as Porthos's adversary wasalready installed in the carriage, and as Aramis's had taken to hisheels, they had nothing to think about but the dead.
As Porthos and Aramis were undressing him, in the hope of finding hiswound not mortal, a large purse dropped from his clothes. D'Artagnanpicked it up and offered it to Lord de Winter.
"What the devil would you have me do with that?" said the Englishman.
"You can restore it to his family," said d'Artagnan.
"His family will care much about such a trifle as that! His family willinherit fifteen thousand louis a year from him. Keep the purse for yourlackeys."
D'Artagnan put the purse into his pocket.
"And now, my young friend, for you will permit me, I hope, to give youthat name," said Lord de Winter, "on this very evening, if agreeable toyou, I will present you to my sister, Milady Clarik, for I am desirousthat she should take you into her good graces; and as she is not in badodor at court, she may perhaps on some future day speak a word that willnot prove useless to you."
D'Artagnan blushed with pleasure, and bowed a sign of assent.
At this time Athos came up to 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?"
"Why, you killed him! They are the spoils of victory."
"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 thecustom in a duel?"
"Even on the field of battle, I have never done that."
Porthos shrugged his shoulders; Aramis by a movement of his lipsendorsed Athos.
"Then," said d'Artagnan, "let us give the money to the lackeys, as Lordde Winter desired us to do."
"Yes," said Athos; "let us give the money to the lackeys--not to ourlackeys, but to the lackeys of the Englishmen."
Athos took the purse, and threw it into the hand of the coachman. "Foryou and your comrades."
This greatness of spirit in a man who was quite destitute struck evenPorthos; and this French generosity, repeated by Lord de Winter and hisfriend, was highly applauded, except by MM Grimaud, Bazin, Mousquetonand Planchet.
Lord de Winter, on quitting d'Artagnan, gave him his sister's address.She lived in the Place Royale--then the fashionable quarter--at Number6, and he undertook to call and take d'Artagnan with him in order tointroduce him. D'Artagnan appointed eight o'clock at Athos's residence.
This introduction to Milady Clarik occupied the head of our Gascongreatly. He remembered in what a strange manner this woman had hithertobeen mixed up in his destiny. According to his conviction, she was somecreature of the cardinal, and yet he felt himself invincibly drawntoward her by one of those sentiments for which we cannot account. Hisonly fear was that Milady would recognize in him the man of Meung and ofDover. Then she knew that he was one of the friends of M. de Treville,and consequently, that he belonged body and soul to the king; whichwould make him lose a part of his advantage, since when known to Miladyas he knew her, he played only an equal game with her. As to thecommencement of an intrigue between her and M. de Wardes, ourpresumptuous hero gave but little heed to that, although the marquis wasyoung, handsome, rich, and high in the cardinal's favor. It is not fornothing we are but twenty years old, above all if we were born atTarbes.
D'Artagnan began by making his most splendid toilet, then returned toAthos's, and according to custom, related everything to him. Athoslistened to his projects, then shook his head, and recommended prudenceto him with a shade of bitterness.
"What!" said he, "you have just lost one woman, whom you call 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 withmy head," said he. "In getting intro
duced to her, my principal object isto ascertain what part she plays at court."
"The part she plays, PARDIEU! It is not difficult to divine that, afterall you have told me. She is some emissary of the cardinal; a woman whowill 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."
"My dear fellow, I mistrust women. Can it be otherwise? I bought myexperience dearly--particularly fair women. Milady is fair, you say?"
"She has the most beautiful light hair imaginable!"
"Ah, my poor d'Artagnan!" said Athos.
"Listen to me! I want to be enlightened on a subject; then, when I shallhave 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 ofhis coming, went into the other chamber. He therefore found d'Artagnanalone, and as it was nearly eight o'clock he took the young man withhim.
An elegant carriage waited below, and as it was drawn by two excellenthorses, they were soon at the Place Royale.
Milady Clarik received d'Artagnan ceremoniously. Her hotel wasremarkably sumptuous, and while the most part of the English had quit,or were about to quit, France on account of the war, Milady had justbeen laying out much money upon her residence; which proved that thegeneral measure which drove the English from France did not affect her.
"You see," said Lord de Winter, presenting d'Artagnan to his sister, "ayoung gentleman who has held my life in his hands, and who has notabused his advantage, although we have been twice enemies, although itwas 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, whosaw and observed this triple shade, almost shuddered at it.
The brother did not perceive this; he had turned round to play withMilady's favorite monkey, which had pulled him by the doublet.
"You are welcome, monsieur," said Milady, in a voice whose singularsweetness contrasted with the symptoms of ill-humor which d'Artagnan hadjust remarked; "you have today acquired eternal rights to my gratitude."
The Englishman then turned round and described the combat withoutomitting a single detail. Milady listened with the greatest attention,and yet it was easily to be perceived, whatever effort she made toconceal her impressions, that this recital was not agreeable to her. Theblood rose to her head, and her little foot worked with impatiencebeneath her robe.
Lord de Winter perceived nothing of this. When he had finished, he wentto a table upon which was a salver with Spanish wine and glasses. Hefilled two glasses, and by a sign invited d'Artagnan to drink.
D'Artagnan knew it was considered disobliging by an Englishman to refuseto pledge him. He therefore drew near to the table and took the secondglass. He did not, however, lose sight of Milady, and in a mirror heperceived the change that came over her face. Now that she believedherself to be no longer observed, a sentiment resembling ferocityanimated her countenance. She bit her handkerchief with her beautifulteeth.
That pretty little SOUBRETTE whom d'Artagnan had already observed thencame in. She spoke some words to Lord de Winter in English, whothereupon requested d'Artagnan's permission to retire, excusing himselfon account of the urgency of the business that had called him away, andcharging his sister to obtain his pardon.
D'Artagnan exchanged a shake of the hand with Lord de Winter, and thenreturned to Milady. Her countenance, with surprising mobility, hadrecovered its gracious expression; but some little red spots on herhandkerchief 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 have entirelyrecovered. She told d'Artagnan that Lord de Winter was herbrother-in-law, and not her brother. She had married a younger brotherof the family, who had left her a widow with one child. This child wasthe only heir to Lord de Winter, if Lord de Winter did not marry. Allthis showed d'Artagnan that there was a veil which concealed something;but he could not yet see under this veil.
In addition to this, after a half hour's conversation d'Artagnan wasconvinced that Milady was his compatriot; she spoke French with anelegance and a purity that left no doubt on that head.
D'Artagnan was profuse in gallant speeches and protestations ofdevotion. To all the simple things which escaped our Gascon, Miladyreplied with a smile of kindness. The hour came for him to retire.D'Artagnan took leave of Milady, and left the saloon the happiest ofmen.
On the staircase he met the pretty SOUBRETTE, who brushed gently againsthim as she passed, and then, blushing to the eyes, asked his pardon forhaving touched him in a voice so sweet that the pardon was grantedinstantly.
D'Artagnan came again on the morrow, and was still better received thanon the evening before. Lord de Winter was not at home; and it was Miladywho this time did all the honors of the evening. She appeared to take agreat interest in him, asked him whence he came, who were his friends,and whether he had not sometimes thought of attaching himself to thecardinal.
D'Artagnan, who, as we have said, was exceedingly prudent for a youngman of twenty, then remembered his suspicions regarding Milady. Helaunched into a eulogy of his Eminence, and said that he should not havefailed to enter into the Guards of the cardinal instead of the king'sGuards if he had happened to know M. de Cavois instead of M. deTreville.
Milady changed the conversation without any appearance of affectation,and asked d'Artagnan in the most careless manner possible if he had everbeen in England.
D'Artagnan replied that he had been sent thither by M. de Treville totreat for a supply of horses, and that he had brought back four asspecimens.
Milady in the course of the conversation twice or thrice bit her lips;she had to deal with a Gascon who played close.
At the same hour as on the preceding evening, d'Artagnan retired. In thecorridor he again met the pretty Kitty; that was the name of theSOUBRETTE. She looked at him with an expression of kindness which it wasimpossible to mistake; but d'Artagnan was so preoccupied by the mistressthat he noticed absolutely nothing but her.
D'Artagnan came again on the morrow and the day after that, and each dayMilady gave him a more gracious reception.
Every evening, either in the antechamber, the corridor, or on thestairs, he met the pretty SOUBRETTE. But, as we have said, d'Artagnanpaid no attention to this persistence of poor Kitty.