56 CAPTIVITY: THE FIFTH DAY
Milady had however achieved a half-triumph, and success doubled herforces.
It was not difficult to conquer, as she had hitherto done, men prompt tolet themselves be seduced, and whom the gallant education of a court ledquickly into her net. Milady was handsome enough not to find muchresistance on the part of the flesh, and she was sufficiently skillfulto prevail over all the obstacles of the mind.
But this time she had to contend with an unpolished nature, concentratedand insensible by force of austerity. Religion and its observances hadmade Felton a man inaccessible to ordinary seductions. There fermentedin that sublimated brain plans so vast, projects so tumultuous, thatthere remained no room for any capricious or material love--thatsentiment which is fed by leisure and grows with corruption. Milady had,then, made a breach by her false virtue in the opinion of a man horriblyprejudiced against her, and by her beauty in the heart of a man hithertochaste and pure. In short, she had taken the measure of motives hithertounknown to herself, through this experiment, made upon the mostrebellious subject that nature and religion could submit to her study.
Many a time, nevertheless, during the evening she despaired of fate andof herself. She did not invoke God, we very well know, but she had faithin the genius of evil--that immense sovereignty which reigns in all thedetails of human life, and by which, as in the Arabian fable, a singlepomegranate seed is sufficient to reconstruct a ruined world.
Milady, being well prepared for the reception of Felton, was able toerect her batteries for the next day. She knew she had only two daysleft; that when once the order was signed by Buckingham--and Buckinghamwould sign it the more readily from its bearing a false name, and hecould not, therefore, recognize the woman in question--once this orderwas signed, we say, the baron would make her embark immediately, and sheknew very well that women condemned to exile employ arms much lesspowerful in their seductions than the pretendedly virtuous woman whosebeauty is lighted by the sun of the world, whose style the voice offashion lauds, and whom a halo of aristocracy gilds with enchantingsplendors. To be a woman condemned to a painful and disgracefulpunishment is no impediment to beauty, but it is an obstacle to therecovery of power. Like all persons of real genius, Milady knew whatsuited her nature and her means. Poverty was repugnant to her;degradation took away two-thirds of her greatness. Milady was only aqueen while among queens. The pleasure of satisfied pride was necessaryto her domination. To command inferior beings was rather a humiliationthan a pleasure for her.
She should certainly return from her exile--she did not doubt that asingle instant; but how long might this exile last? For an active,ambitious nature, like that of Milady, days not spent in climbing areinauspicious days. What word, then, can be found to describe the dayswhich they occupy in descending? To lose a year, two years, three years,is to talk of an eternity; to return after the death or disgrace of thecardinal, perhaps; to return when d'Artagnan and his friends, happy andtriumphant, should have received from the queen the reward they had wellacquired by the services they had rendered her--these were devouringideas that a woman like Milady could not endure. For the rest, the stormwhich raged within her doubled her strength, and she would have burstthe walls of her prison if her body had been able to take for a singleinstant the proportions of her mind.
Then that which spurred her on additionally in the midst of all this wasthe remembrance of the cardinal. What must the mistrustful, restless,suspicious cardinal think of her silence--the cardinal, not merely heronly support, her only prop, her only protector at present, but stillfurther, the principal instrument of her future fortune and vengeance?She knew him; she knew that at her return from a fruitless journey itwould be in vain to tell him of her imprisonment, in vain to enlargeupon the sufferings she had undergone. The cardinal would reply, withthe sarcastic calmness of the skeptic, strong at once by power andgenius, "You should not have allowed yourself to be taken."
Then Milady collected all her energies, murmuring in the depths of hersoul the name of Felton--the only beam of light that penetrated to herin the hell into which she had fallen; and like a serpent which foldsand unfolds its rings to ascertain its strength, she enveloped Feltonbeforehand in the thousand meshes of her inventive imagination.
Time, however, passed away; the hours, one after another, seemed toawaken the clock as they passed, and every blow of the brass hammerresounded upon the heart of the prisoner. At nine o'clock, Lord deWinter made his customary visit, examined the window and the bars,sounded the floor and the walls, looked to the chimney and the doors,without, during this long and minute examination, he or Miladypronouncing a single word.
Doubtless both of them understood that the situation had become tooserious to lose time in useless words and aimless wrath.
"Well," said the baron, on leaving her "you will not escape tonight!"
At ten o'clock Felton came and placed the sentinel. Milady recognizedhis step. She was as well acquainted with it now as a mistress is withthat of the lover of her heart; and yet Milady at the same time detestedand despised this weak fanatic.
That was not the appointed hour. Felton did not enter.
Two hours after, as midnight sounded, the sentinel was relieved. Thistime it WAS the hour, and from this moment Milady waited withimpatience. The new sentinel commenced his walk in the corridor. At theexpiration of ten minutes Felton came.
Milady was all attention.
"Listen," said the young man to the sentinel. "On no pretense leave thedoor, for you know that last night my Lord punished a soldier for havingquit his post for an instant, although I, during his absence, watched inhis place."
"Yes, I know it," said the soldier.
"I recommend you therefore to keep the strictest watch. For my part I amgoing to pay a second visit to this woman, who I fear entertainssinister intentions upon her own life, and I have received orders towatch her."
"Good!" murmured Milady; "the austere Puritan lies."
As to the soldier, he only smiled.
"Zounds, Lieutenant!" said he; "you are not unlucky in being chargedwith such commissions, particularly if my Lord has authorized you tolook into her bed."
Felton blushed. Under any other circumstances he would have reprimandedthe soldier for indulging in such pleasantry, but his consciencemurmured too loud for his mouth to dare speak.
"If I call, come," said he. "If anyone comes, call me."
"I will, Lieutenant," said the soldier.
Felton entered Milady's apartment. Milady arose.
"You are here!" said she.
"I promised to come," said Felton, "and I have come."
"You promised me something else."
"What, my God!" said the young man, who in spite of his self-commandfelt his knees tremble and the sweat start from his brow.
"You promised to bring a knife, and to leave it with me after ourinterview."
"Say no more of that, madame," said Felton. "There is no situation,however terrible it may be, which can authorize a creature of God toinflict death upon himself. I have reflected, and I cannot, must not beguilty of such a sin."
"Ah, you have reflected!" said the prisoner, sitting down in herarmchair, with a smile of disdain; "and I also have reflected."
"Upon what?"
"That I can have nothing to say to a man who does not keep his word."
"Oh, my God!" murmured Felton.
"You may retire," said Milady. "I will not talk."
"Here is the knife," said Felton, drawing from his pocket the weaponwhich he had brought, according to his promise, but which he hesitatedto give to his prisoner.
"Let me see it," said Milady.
"For what purpose?"
"Upon my honor, I will instantly return it to you. You shall place it onthat table, and you may remain between it and me."
Felton offered the weapon to Milady, who examined the temper of itattentively, and who tried the point on the tip of her finger.
"Well," said she, returning
the knife to the young officer, "this isfine and good steel. You are a faithful friend, Felton."
Felton took back the weapon, and laid it upon the table, as he hadagreed with the prisoner.
Milady followed him with her eyes, and made a gesture of satisfaction.
"Now," said she, "listen to me."
The request was needless. The young officer stood upright before her,awaiting her words as if to devour them.
"Felton," said Milady, with a solemnity full of melancholy, "imaginethat your sister, the daughter of your father, speaks to you. While yetyoung, unfortunately handsome, I was dragged into a snare. I resisted.Ambushes and violences multiplied around me, but I resisted. Thereligion I serve, the God I adore, were blasphemed because I called uponthat religion and that God, but still I resisted. Then outrages wereheaped upon me, and as my soul was not subdued they wished to defile mybody forever. Finally--"
Milady stopped, and a bitter smile passed over her lips.
"Finally," said Felton, "finally, what did they do?"
"At length, one evening my enemy resolved to paralyze the resistance hecould not conquer. One evening he mixed a powerful narcotic with mywater. Scarcely had I finished my repast, when I felt myself sink bydegrees into a strange torpor. Although I was without mistrust, a vaguefear seized me, and I tried to struggle against sleepiness. I arose. Iwished to run to the window and call for help, but my legs refused theiroffice. It appeared as if the ceiling sank upon my head and crushed mewith its weight. I stretched out my arms. I tried to speak. I could onlyutter inarticulate sounds, and irresistible faintness came over me. Isupported myself by a chair, feeling that I was about to fall, but thissupport was soon insufficient on account of my weak arms. I fell uponone knee, then upon both. I tried to pray, but my tongue was frozen. Goddoubtless neither heard nor saw me, and I sank upon the floor a prey toa slumber which resembled death.
"Of all that passed in that sleep, or the time which glided away whileit lasted, I have no remembrance. The only thing I recollect is that Iawoke in bed in a round chamber, the furniture of which was sumptuous,and into which light only penetrated by an opening in the ceiling. Nodoor gave entrance to the room. It might be called a magnificent prison.
"It was a long time before I was able to make out what place I was in,or to take account of the details I describe. My mind appeared to strivein vain to shake off the heavy darkness of the sleep from which I couldnot rouse myself. I had vague perceptions of space traversed, of therolling of a carriage, of a horrible dream in which my strength hadbecome exhausted; but all this was so dark and so indistinct in my mindthat these events seemed to belong to another life than mine, and yetmixed with mine in fantastic duality.
"At times the state into which I had fallen appeared so strange that Ibelieved myself dreaming. I arose trembling. My clothes were near me ona chair; I neither remembered having undressed myself nor going to bed.Then by degrees the reality broke upon me, full of chaste terrors. I wasno longer in the house where I had dwelt. As well as I could judge bythe light of the sun, the day was already two-thirds gone. It was theevening before when I had fallen asleep; my sleep, then, must havelasted twenty-four hours! What had taken place during this long sleep?
"I dressed myself as quickly as possible; my slow and stiff motions allattested that the effects of the narcotic were not yet entirelydissipated. The chamber was evidently furnished for the reception of awoman; and the most finished coquette could not have formed a wish, buton casting her eyes about the apartment, she would have found that wishaccomplished.
"Certainly I was not the first captive that had been shut up in thissplendid prison; but you may easily comprehend, Felton, that the moresuperb the prison, the greater was my terror.
"Yes, it was a prison, for I tried in vain to get out of it. I soundedall the walls, in the hopes of discovering a door, but everywhere thewalls returned a full and flat sound.
"I made the tour of the room at least twenty times, in search of anoutlet of some kind; but there was none. I sank exhausted with fatigueand terror into an armchair.
"Meantime, night came on rapidly, and with night my terrors increased. Idid not know but I had better remain where I was seated. It appearedthat I was surrounded with unknown dangers into which I was about tofall at every instant. Although I had eaten nothing since the eveningbefore, my fears prevented my feeling hunger.
"No noise from without by which I could measure the time reached me; Ionly supposed it must be seven or eight o'clock in the evening, for itwas in the month of October and it was quite dark.
"All at once the noise of a door, turning on its hinges, made me start.A globe of fire appeared above the glazed opening of the ceiling,casting a strong light into my chamber; and I perceived with terror thata man was standing within a few paces of me.
"A table, with two covers, bearing a supper ready prepared, stood, as ifby magic, in the middle of the apartment.
"That man was he who had pursued me during a whole year, who had vowedmy dishonor, and who, by the first words that issued from his mouth,gave me to understand he had accomplished it the preceding night."
"Scoundrel!" murmured Felton.
"Oh, yes, scoundrel!" cried Milady, seeing the interest which the youngofficer, whose soul seemed to hang on her lips, took in this strangerecital. "Oh, yes, scoundrel! He believed, having triumphed over me inmy sleep, that all was completed. He came, hoping that I would accept myshame, as my shame was consummated; he came to offer his fortune inexchange for my love.
"All that the heart of a woman could contain of haughty contempt anddisdainful words, I poured out upon this man. Doubtless he wasaccustomed to such reproaches, for he listened to me calm and smiling,with his arms crossed over his breast. Then, when he thought I had saidall, he advanced toward me; I sprang toward the table, I seized a knife,I placed it to my breast.
"Take one step more," said I, "and in addition to my dishonor, you shallhave my death to reproach yourself with."
"There was, no doubt, in my look, my voice, my whole person, thatsincerity of gesture, of attitude, of accent, which carries convictionto the most perverse minds, for he paused.
"'Your death?' said he; 'oh, no, you are too charming a mistress toallow me to consent to lose you thus, after I have had the happiness topossess you only a single time. Adieu, my charmer; I will wait to payyou my next visit till you are in a better humor.'
"At these words he blew a whistle; the globe of fire which lighted theroom reascended and disappeared. I found myself again in completedarkness. The same noise of a door opening and shutting was repeated theinstant afterward; the flaming globe descended afresh, and I wascompletely alone.
"This moment was frightful; if I had any doubts as to my misfortune,these doubts had vanished in an overwhelming reality. I was in the powerof a man whom I not only detested, but despised--of a man capable ofanything, and who had already given me a fatal proof of what he was ableto do."
"But who, then was this man?" asked Felton.
"I passed the night on a chair, starting at the least noise, for towardmidnight the lamp went out, and I was again in darkness. But the nightpassed away without any fresh attempt on the part of my persecutor. Daycame; the table had disappeared, only I had still the knife in my hand.
"This knife was my only hope.
"I was worn out with fatigue. Sleeplessness inflamed my eyes; I had notdared to sleep a single instant. The light of day reassured me; I wentand threw myself on the bed, without parting with the emancipatingknife, which I concealed under my pillow.
"When I awoke, a fresh meal was served.
"This time, in spite of my terrors, in spite of my agony, I began tofeel a devouring hunger. It was forty-eight hours since I had taken anynourishment. I ate some bread and some fruit; then, remembering thenarcotic mixed with the water I had drunk, I would not touch that whichwas placed on the table, but filled my glass at a marble fountain fixedin the wall over my dressing table.
"And yet, notwithstanding thes
e precautions, I remained for some time ina terrible agitation of mind. But my fears were this time ill-founded; Ipassed the day without experiencing anything of the kind I dreaded.
"I took the precaution to half empty the carafe, in order that mysuspicions might not be noticed.
"The evening came on, and with it darkness; but however profound wasthis darkness, my eyes began to accustom themselves to it. I saw, amidthe shadows, the table sink through the floor; a quarter of an hourlater it reappeared, bearing my supper. In an instant, thanks to thelamp, my chamber was once more lighted.
"I was determined to eat only such things as could not possibly haveanything soporific introduced into them. Two eggs and some fruitcomposed my repast; then I drew another glass of water from myprotecting fountain, and drank it.
"At the first swallow, it appeared to me not to have the same taste asin the morning. Suspicion instantly seized me. I paused, but I hadalready drunk half a glass.
"I threw the rest away with horror, and waited, with the dew of fearupon my brow.
"No doubt some invisible witness had seen me draw the water from thatfountain, and had taken advantage of my confidence in it, the better toassure my ruin, so coolly resolved upon, so cruelly pursued.
"Half an hour had not passed when the same symptoms began to appear; butas I had only drunk half a glass of the water, I contended longer, andinstead of falling entirely asleep, I sank into a state of drowsinesswhich left me a perception of what was passing around me, whiledepriving me of the strength either to defend myself or to fly.
"I dragged myself toward the bed, to seek the only defense I hadleft--my saving knife; but I could not reach the bolster. I sank on myknees, my hands clasped round one of the bedposts; then I felt that Iwas lost."
Felton became frightfully pale, and a convulsive tremor crept throughhis whole body.
"And what was most frightful," continued Milady, her voice altered, asif she still experienced the same agony as at that awful minute, "wasthat at this time I retained a consciousness of the danger thatthreatened me; was that my soul, if I may say so, waked in my sleepingbody; was that I saw, that I heard. It is true that all was like adream, but it was not the less frightful.
"I saw the lamp ascend, and leave me in darkness; then I heard thewell-known creaking of the door although I had heard that door open buttwice.
"I felt instinctively that someone approached me; it is said that thedoomed wretch in the deserts of America thus feels the approach of theserpent.
"I wished to make an effort; I attempted to cry out. By an incredibleeffort of will I even raised myself up, but only to sink down againimmediately, and to fall into the arms of my persecutor."
"Tell me who this man was!" cried the young officer.
Milady saw at a single glance all the painful feelings she inspired inFelton by dwelling on every detail of her recital; but she would notspare him a single pang. The more profoundly she wounded his heart, themore certainly he would avenge her. She continued, then, as if she hadnot heard his exclamation, or as if she thought the moment was not yetcome to reply to it.
"Only this time it was no longer an inert body, without feeling, thatthe villain had to deal with. I have told you that without being able toregain the complete exercise of my faculties, I retained the sense of mydanger. I struggled, then, with all my strength, and doubtless opposed,weak as I was, a long resistance, for I heard him cry out, 'Thesemiserable Puritans! I knew very well that they tired out theirexecutioners, but I did not believe them so strong against theirlovers!'
"Alas! this desperate resistance could not last long. I felt my strengthfail, and this time it was not my sleep that enabled the coward toprevail, but my swoon."
Felton listened without uttering any word or sound, except an inwardexpression of agony. The sweat streamed down his marble forehead, andhis hand, under his coat, tore his breast.
"My first impulse, on coming to myself, was to feel under my pillow forthe knife I had not been able to reach; if it had not been useful fordefense, it might at least serve for expiation.
"But on taking this knife, Felton, a terrible idea occurred to me. Ihave sworn to tell you all, and I will tell you all. I have promised youthe truth; I will tell it, were it to destroy me."
"The idea came into your mind to avenge yourself on this man, did itnot?" cried Felton.
"Yes," said Milady. "The idea was not that of a Christian, I knew; butwithout doubt, that eternal enemy of our souls, that lion roaringconstantly around us, breathed it into my mind. In short, what shall Isay to you, Felton?" continued Milady, in the tone of a woman accusingherself of a crime. "This idea occurred to me, and did not leave me; itis of this homicidal thought that I now bear the punishment."
"Continue, continue!" said Felton; "I am eager to see you attain yourvengeance!"
"Oh, I resolved that it should take place as soon as possible. I had nodoubt he would return the following night. During the day I had nothingto fear.
"When the hour of breakfast came, therefore, I did not hesitate to eatand drink. I had determined to make believe sup, but to eat nothing. Iwas forced, then, to combat the fast of the evening with the nourishmentof the morning.
"Only I concealed a glass of water, which remained after my breakfast,thirst having been the chief of my sufferings when I remainedforty-eight hours without eating or drinking.
"The day passed away without having any other influence on me than tostrengthen the resolution I had formed; only I took care that my faceshould not betray the thoughts of my heart, for I had no doubt I waswatched. Several times, even, I felt a smile on my lips. Felton, I darenot tell you at what idea I smiled; you would hold me in horror--"
"Go on! go on!" said Felton; "you see plainly that I listen, and that Iam anxious to know the end."
"Evening came; the ordinary events took place. During the darkness, asbefore, my supper was brought. Then the lamp was lighted, and I sat downto table. I only ate some fruit. I pretended to pour out water from thejug, but I only drank that which I had saved in my glass. Thesubstitution was made so carefully that my spies, if I had any, couldhave no suspicion of it.
"After supper I exhibited the same marks of languor as on the precedingevening; but this time, as I yielded to fatigue, or as if I had becomefamiliarized with danger, I dragged myself toward my bed, let my robefall, and lay down.
"I found my knife where I had placed it, under my pillow, and whilefeigning to sleep, my hand grasped the handle of it convulsively.
"Two hours passed away without anything fresh happening. Oh, my God! whocould have said so the evening before? I began to fear that he would notcome.
"At length I saw the lamp rise softly, and disappear in the depths ofthe ceiling; my chamber was filled with darkness and obscurity, but Imade a strong effort to penetrate this darkness and obscurity.
"Nearly ten minutes passed; I heard no other noise but the beating of myown heart. I implored heaven that he might come.
"At length I heard the well-known noise of the door, which opened andshut; I heard, notwithstanding the thickness of the carpet, a step whichmade the floor creak; I saw, notwithstanding the darkness, a shadowwhich approached my bed."
"Haste! haste!" said Felton; "do you not see that each of your wordsburns me like molten lead?"
"Then," continued Milady, "then I collected all my strength; I recalledto my mind that the moment of vengeance, or rather, of justice, hadstruck. I looked upon myself as another Judith; I gathered myself up, myknife in my hand, and when I saw him near me, stretching out his arms tofind his victim, then, with the last cry of agony and despair, I struckhim in the middle of his breast.
"The miserable villain! He had foreseen all. His breast was covered witha coat-of-mail; the knife was bent against it.
"'Ah, ah!' cried he, seizing my arm, and wresting from me the weaponthat had so badly served me, 'you want to take my life, do you, mypretty Puritan? But that's more than dislike, that's ingratitude! Come,come, calm yourself, my sweet girl! I t
hought you had softened. I am notone of those tyrants who detain women by force. You don't love me. Withmy usual fatuity I doubted it; now I am convinced. Tomorrow you shall befree.'
"I had but one wish; that was that he should kill me.
"'Beware!' said I, 'for my liberty is your dishonor.'
"'Explain yourself, my pretty sibyl!'
"'Yes; for as soon as I leave this place I will tell everything. I willproclaim the violence you have used toward me. I will describe mycaptivity. I will denounce this place of infamy. You are placed on high,my Lord, but tremble! Above you there is the king; above the king thereis God!'
"However perfect master he was over himself, my persecutor allowed amovement of anger to escape him. I could not see the expression of hiscountenance, but I felt the arm tremble upon which my hand was placed.
"'Then you shall not leave this place,' said he.
"'Very well,' cried I, 'then the place of my punishment will be that ofmy tomb. I will die here, and you will see if a phantom that accuses isnot more terrible than a living being that threatens!'
"'You shall have no weapon left in your power.'
"'There is a weapon which despair has placed within the reach of everycreature who has the courage to use it. I will allow myself to die withhunger.'
"'Come,' said the wretch, 'is not peace much better than such a war asthat? I will restore you to liberty this moment; I will proclaim you apiece of immaculate virtue; I will name you the Lucretia of England.'
"'And I will say that you are the Sextus. I will denounce you beforemen, as I have denounced you before God; and if it be necessary that,like Lucretia, I should sign my accusation with my blood, I will signit.'
"'Ah!' said my enemy, in a jeering tone, 'that's quite another thing. Myfaith! everything considered, you are very well off here. You shall wantfor nothing, and if you let yourself die of hunger that will be your ownfault.'
"At these words he retired. I heard the door open and shut, and Iremained overwhelmed, less, I confess it, by my grief than by themortification of not having avenged myself.
"He kept his word. All the day, all the next night passed away withoutmy seeing him again. But I also kept my word with him, and I neither atenor drank. I was, as I told him, resolved to die of hunger.
"I passed the day and the night in prayer, for I hoped that God wouldpardon me my suicide.
"The second night the door opened; I was lying on the floor, for mystrength began to abandon me.
"At the noise I raised myself up on one hand.
"'Well,' said a voice which vibrated in too terrible a manner in my earnot to be recognized, 'well! Are we softened a little? Will we not payfor our liberty with a single promise of silence? Come, I am a good sortof a prince,' added he, 'and although I like not Puritans I do themjustice; and it is the same with Puritanesses, when they are pretty.Come, take a little oath for me on the cross; I won't ask anything moreof you.'
"'On the cross,' cried I, rising, for at that abhorred voice I hadrecovered all my strength, 'on the cross I swear that no promise, nomenace, no force, no torture, shall close my mouth! On the cross I swearto denounce you everywhere as a murderer, as a thief of honor, as a basecoward! On the cross I swear, if I ever leave this place, to call downvengeance upon you from the whole human race!'
"'Beware!' said the voice, in a threatening accent that I had never yetheard. 'I have an extraordinary means which I will not employ but in thelast extremity to close your mouth, or at least to prevent anyone frombelieving a word you may utter.'
"I mustered all my strength to reply to him with a burst of laughter.
"He saw that it was a merciless war between us--a war to the death.
"'Listen!' said he. 'I give you the rest of tonight and all daytomorrow. Reflect: promise to be silent, and riches, consideration, evenhonor, shall surround you; threaten to speak, and I will condemn you toinfamy.'
"'You?' cried I. 'You?'
"'To interminable, ineffaceable infamy!'
"'You?' repeated I. Oh, I declare to you, Felton, I thought him mad!
"'Yes, yes, I!' replied he.
"'Oh, leave me!' said I. 'Begone, if you do not desire to see me dash myhead against that wall before your eyes!'
"'Very well, it is your own doing. Till tomorrow evening, then!'
"'Till tomorrow evening, then!' replied I, allowing myself to fall, andbiting the carpet with rage."
Felton leaned for support upon a piece of furniture; and Milady saw,with the joy of a demon, that his strength would fail him perhaps beforethe end of her recital.