Chapter 40 Chapter Thirty-eight

The young man had fled, and Milady was still making feeble, threatening gestures at him.The moment d'Artagnan's figure disappeared from her vision, she fainted in the bedroom. D'Artagnan looked flustered, ignoring everything that might happen to Kitty, and ran across half of Paris, stopping only at the door of Athos.His mental disorder, the terror that stimulated him, the shouts of the patrolmen who followed him, and the taunts of the passers-by who were rushing to do errands early in the morning, only urged him to quicken his galloping pace. He crossed the courtyard, went up to the second floor of Athos, and knocked on the door of the house.

Grimmer came to the door sleepily.D'Artagnan rushed into the front hall like a hungry tiger, and almost knocked Grimaud over before he broke into the house. Although the poor servant was always silent, this time at last he spoke. Hey, oops!He cried out, what are you doing, you reckless woman?What are you looking for, lady? D'Artagnan took off his hat, and stretched out his hands from under the woman's cloak; and at one glance at his moustache and the unsheathed edge of his sword, the poor little devil realized that he was dealing with a man. At this time, he thought that a murderous gangster had broken in.

help!Come on!help!he yelled. Shut up, poor ghost!The young man said, I am d'Artagnan, do you not recognize me?Where is your master? You, Monsieur d'Artagnan!Grimmer, terrified, exclaimed, Impossible! Grimer, said Athos in his nightgown as he came out of the apartment, I think you dared to speak at last. ah!gentlemen!This is because Do not talk. Grimaud merely pointed out d'Artagnan with his hand to his master. Athos recognized his companion.Despite his calm nature, he laughed out loud at the strange attire he saw in front of him: a woman's hat on one side, skirts as long as the leather shoes, rolled-up sleeves, and tense tension with excitement. Mustache.

Please stop laughing, my friend, cried D'Artagnan, for God's sake, please stop laughing, because, on my soul, there is nothing to laugh at. When dArtagnan spoke these words, his expression was serious, and his face showed real terror. Athos immediately took his hand and asked aloud: Are you hurt my friend?You look so pale! No injuries, but a terrible thing happened to me just now.You alone at home, Athos? Then there is no need to ask!Who do you think will be in my house at this time? That's good, that's good. D'Artagnan then hastened into Athos' room. Hey, please tell me!Athos closed the door as he spoke, and then bolted it again so that no one might disturb him.Is the king dead?Or did you kill Mr. Cardinal?Look at your panicked look, tell me, I'm really worried to death.

Athos, said d'Artagnan; he undresses the woman and reveals her underclothes. Are you going to hear an unbelievable and unheard-of story? Put on this pajamas first, said the Musketeer to his friend. D'Artagnan put on his pajamas, but because he was still frightened, he mistook one sleeve for the other. what's going on?asked Athos. That's it!D'Artagnan leaned forward, and whispered in Athos' ear that there was a lily branded on Milady's shoulder. ah!The musketeer cried out as if he had been shot in the heart. So, asked d'Artagnan, are you sure that the man is really dead?

which one?Athos spoke in such a low voice that d'Artagnan hardly heard him. Yes, the same woman you told me about one day in Amiens. Athos put his head in his hands and groaned. The woman was about twenty-six or seven years old.D'Artagnan went on. Blonde, isn't it?asked Athos. right. Light blue eyes with a strange light and black eyelashes? yes. Tall and slim?Missing tooth next to left upper canine. Yes. The lily is not big, and the color is reddish brown, as if a layer of paint has been applied to it and then faded. good. And you said she was British? Everyone called her Milady, but she might be French.Regardless of this, Lord Winter is just her brother-in-law anyway.

I want to see her, d'Artagnan. Beware, Athos, beware!You've tried to kill her in the past, and she's a tit for an eye for an eye woman, and she won't let you go. She didn't dare to say anything, because once she said it, it was tantamount to self-reporting. She can do anything!Have you ever seen her lose her temper? No.said Athos. That is simply a tigress!A female leopard!My dear Athos!I dreaded a terrible revenge upon us both! D'Artagnan then related all that had happened, Milady's irrational rage, and her threat of death. You are right, I swear on my soul, I would give my life for a hair of my head, said Athos, fortunately, we are leaving Paris the day after tomorrow, and nine times out of ten we are going to La Rochelle, and once you leave

She will follow you to the ends of the earth, Athos, if she recognizes you.Then let her hatred vent on me alone. ah!Honey!So what if she killed me!Says Athos, Do you suddenly think me a coward of life and fear of death? There is some terrible secret behind all this, Athos!This woman, I believe, is a spy for the Cardinal. If so, you should be careful.If the Cardinal did not speak highly of you for the events of London, he would have a deep hatred for you; hatred, so beware!If you go out, don't be alone; if you eat, be aware; in a word, beware of everything, even your shadow. As long as we can survive until the next evening, everything will be all right, said d'Artagnan, because when we enlist, we have only men to fear, I hope so.

During this period, Athos said, I will give up the seclusion plan and accompany you around.You should return to Gravedigger Street now, and I will accompany you. But no matter how near here, said d'Artagnan, I cannot go back like this. No, said Athos, pulling the bell-rope. Grimmer walked into the house. Athos beckoned him to fetch some clothes from d'Artagnan's house. Grimer replied in another gesture that he understood it all, and set off. This is the next step!But this is not to equip us in advance, dear friend, said Athos, for, if I am not mistaken, you have left all your clothes in Milady's boudoir, and she will not think of giving them back. you.It's a good thing you have her sapphire ring as collateral.

The sapphire ring is yours, dear Athos!Didn't you tell me that it was your family ring? Yes, as my father used to tell me, he bought it for two thousand crowns; it was part of his wedding present to my mother, and it was a beautiful ring.Then my mother gave it to me; and I, I was so mad that instead of keeping the ring, I gave it to the stinky woman. Then, my dear, you take back that ring, I understand, you should cherish it. Me, I'll take it back after passing through that stinky woman's hand!Never!For that ring has been defiled, d'Artagnan. Then sell it. Sell ​​the diamonds that my mother passed down!To tell you the truth, I regard this as sacrilege.

Then pawn it, and it will be more than a thousand crowns.With this money, your business will be easy; when you have money later, you can redeem it.When you get that ring again, the old stain has been washed off, for it has been touched by the hand of a usurer. Athos smiled. You are a dear companion, dear d'Artagnan, said he, who revives, with eternal joy, poor wisdom in distress.Well, that's it, pawn this ring, but there is one condition! What conditions? That is, you take five hundred crowns, and I take five hundred crowns. Where did you think, Athos?I don't need the five hundred; I'm a servant in the Janissaries, and that's what I get when I sell my saddle.What do I need to do?Buy a horse for Planchet, that's all.Besides, you forget, I have a ring too. It seems to me that you love your ring more than I do, at least I believe I see so. Yes, because it can not only rescue us from embarrassment in desperate situations, but also eliminate danger for us; it is not only a precious diamond, but also a magic weapon. I don't understand what you mean, but I believe what you say.Then come back to my ring, or rather to your ring; you must take half of our pawn, or I'll throw it in the Seine, and I doubt it will be as Polycrat (Note: Polycrat is the tyrant of an island in the ancient Greek Aegean Sea. He united the Egyptians, provoked the Lesbos and the Miletus; Cernia, imprisoned and crucified in an ambush by the Sardinians after he had thrown into the sea a precious ring which was found in the maw of a fish and returned to its owner.) In that way, it is believed that there What a gracious fish to bring us the ring back. In this case, then I accept it!said d'Artagnan. At this moment, Grimaud came in accompanied by Planchet; out of concern for his master and curious to know what had happened to his master, Planchet took this opportunity to deliver the master's clothes himself. D'Artagnan dressed, and Athos likewise; then, when the two were about to go out, Athos made a gesture to Grimaud, who at once took down his musket, and prepared to accompany him. Master travels with you. Athos and d'Artagnan went first, followed by two servants, and arrived safely in the Rue Gravediggers.Bonacieur was standing at the door, looking mockingly at d'Artagnan. Hello, my dear landlord!He said, hurry up, there is a beautiful lady waiting for you at your house, you know, women don't like to be kept waiting for a long time! That's Katie!cried d'Artagnan. So he rushed down the aisle. Sure enough, on the landing leading to his room, he found the poor girl curled up against the door, trembling.Seeing d'Artagnan she said: You promised to protect me, you promised to save me when she gets angry, remember, you ruined me! Yes, there is no doubt, said d'Artagnan; don't worry, Kitty.But what happened after I left? do i knowKitty said she was mad with rage when all the servants came running at her cry; and she took all the curses in the world on you.Then I thought she would remember that you came into her bedroom through mine, and she would think I was your accomplice; so I took what little money I had, and some of the most expensive clothes , and escaped. Poor boy!But what shall I do with you?I'm leaving the day after tomorrow. Do as you please, Monsieur Chevalier, send me out of Paris, send me out of France. But I cannot take you with me to besiege La Rochelle, said d'Artagnan. No; but you can send me into the provinces, with some lady you know well, say in your hometown. ah!Dear friends!In my hometown, ladies don't have maids.But wait a minute, I have a way to arrange for you.Planchet, find Aramis for me, and ask him to come at once, I have something important to say to him. I understand, said Athos, but why do you not seek Porthos?i think his marquise The Marquise of Porthos dresses her husband's clerks, said d'Artie, laughing, but Kitty doesn't want to live in the Rue de la Blind, does she, Kitty? I'll live where you want me to live, Katie said, as long as I'm well hidden and nobody knows I'm there. Katie, now we're breaking up, so stop being jealous of me. Mr. Knight, whether far away or near, said Katie, I will always love you. What the hell is there to be loyal?murmured Athos. Me too, said d'Artagnan, I too, love you forever, don't worry.But, here, please answer me a question, this question is very important to me, let me ask you, have you ever heard of a young woman who was kidnapped in one night? Please wait a moment!my God!Mr. Knight, you still love that woman? No, a friend of mine loved her.Behold, this is Athos. I!Athos cried out in terror as if he saw that he was about to step on a swimming snake. Probably you!Saying d'Artagnan, shaking Athos' hand, you know very well that we are all concerned about poor little Madame Bonacieur.And Katie will keep it secret, won't she, Katie?You understand, my child, went on d'Artagnan, that hideous man you saw at the door, and that woman is his wife. oh!God!cried Kitty, I'm afraid again when you mention it; I hope he doesn't recognize me! What, recognize you!So you've already met that man? He had been to Milady's twice. That's right.About what time? Nearly half a month or eighteen days ago. What a coincidence. He went again last night. last night? Yes, he went shortly before your arrival. Dear Athos, we are surrounded by a network of spies!You think he recognizes you, Katie? I lowered my hat as soon as I saw him, but maybe it was too late. Go downstairs, Athos, he suspects me more than you, and see if he is still at the gate. Athos went downstairs, and immediately came up again. He is gone, said Athos, and the door is closed. He went to report and said that all the pigeons were in the cage at this time. Well, then, let us fly away, said Athos, leaving Planchet alone to investigate. Wait a little longer!We have sent for Aramis! Yes, said Athos, wait for Aramis to go with him. Just then Aramis entered the room. They told him of the situation, told him it was urgent, and asked him to give Katie a place among all the hotties of society. Aramis thought for a moment, then blushed and said: I really do my best for you, d'Artagnan. I will be grateful to you forever. Just in time, Madame Boistrassie begged me that a friend of hers in the provinces wanted a reliable maid; my dear M. d'Artagnan, if you would vouch for this lady oh!Monsieur, cried Katie, believe me, I am absolutely loyal to anyone who can figure out how to get me out of Paris. That would be great.said Aramis. He sat at a table, wrote a note, stamped it with a ring, and handed the note to Katie. Now, my boy, said d'Artagnan, you know it is neither us nor you here, so let us part.When the time passes, we will meet again. Whenever and wherever we meet again, said Katie, you will see that I will still love you as I love you now. The gambler's pledge, said Athos, after d'Artagnan led Kitty down the stairs. After a while the three young men parted separately, agreeing to meet at Athos's at four o'clock, leaving Planchet to look after the house. Aramis returned to his home, while Athos and d'Artagnan went to arrange the mortgage of the sapphire ring. As our Gascons expected, they easily pawned off the ring for three hundred pistols.Besides, the Jew said, if they'd sell him the ring, and make a pretty pendant, he'd give five hundred more. With the speed of two soldiers and the shrewdness of two experts, Athos and d'Artagnan bought the complete set of equipment for the musketeer in less than three hours.Besides, Athos was easygoing, a real tycoon, and when anything pleased him, he paid the asking price without even paying a dime.D'Artagnan complained about this, but Athos always patted him on the shoulder with a smile, so D'Artagnan understood: for him, a little Gascon gentleman, bargaining was appropriate, But it would be disrespectful to a man who was quite a prince. The musketeers found a six-year-old Andalusian monkey, with a coat as black as coal, a nostril as red as coal, and four delicate and well-proportioned legs.He inspected it, found no flaws, and bought it for a thousand livres. Perhaps the horse was not worth the price; while d'Artagnan was negotiating the price with the horse dealer, Athos counted a hundred pistoles on the table. Grimer bought a small Picard horse, worth three hundred livres. After buying saddles and weapons for Grimmer, Athos's five hundred pistoles were gone.D'Artagnan begged his friend to take a part of his own share, and treat it as a loan to him, to return it to him at a later date. But Athos said nothing, but shrugged his shoulders. How much does the Jew want to buy the sapphire ring completely? asked Athos. Five hundred pistoles. This means adding two hundred pistoles; one hundred pistoles to you and the other hundred pistoles to me.This is a fortune, my friend, please go to the Jews again. what do you want To tell the truth, that ring reminds me of too many sad memories, and besides, we will never have three hundred pistoles to buy it again, so why lose the two thousand livres deal.Go and tell the Jew that the ring is his, d'Artagnan, and bring back two hundred pistols. Be careful, Athos. Cash is precious right now, and you should be good at making sacrifices.Go, d'Artagnan, go, Grimaud, take your arms and go with you. Half an hour later, d'Artagnan returned without incident with two thousand livres in his pocket. Thus Athos found a source of wealth at home, which he did not expect.