Chapter 47 Chapter 45: The Husband and Wife Fight

The cardinal came downstairs quickly, as Athos had expected; he opened the door of the ground-floor hall into which the musketeers had entered, and found Porthos and Aramis enjoying a game of dice.With a quick glance, he scanned the corners of the hall, and at a glance he saw that one of them was missing. Why isn't Athos here?he asks. My lord, answered Porthos, who, after a few words from the innkeeper, felt that the road was not safe, and went to reconnoitre. And you, what have you done, Mr. Porthos? I won Aramis five pistols. Now, can you go back with me? Listen carefully to the bishop's orders.

Get on your horses then, gentlemen, because it's getting late. The cardinal's page stood at the door, holding the bridle.A little far away, there were two people and three horses flashing in the shadows; those two people were the men who were going to lead Milady to the fortress of La Pointe and escort her to the sea by boat. The attendant confirmed to the cardinal the whereabouts of Athos on the basis of what the two musketeers had told him in advance.The cardinal made a gesture of approval, and set off immediately.He was very wary when he came, but he was still extremely cautious on the way home.

Now let the cardinal, guarded by his squires and two musketeers, follow the road back to the camp, and we shall speak of Athos. During the first hundred steps, he walked calmly; but as soon as he was out of sight of others, he turned right on his horse, made a detour of about twenty steps, hid in a bush, and watched the small group of people pass by; Recognizing the fringed hat of his companion, and the golden fringe of Monsieur Cardinal's cloak, he waited for the caravan to turn the corner; door of the inn. The shopkeeper recognized him. My superior forgot to tell the lady on the second floor an important order, said Athos, and he sent me to make it up to her.

Please go upstairs.The owner said she was still in the room. Athos obtained permission, and went up the stairs with the lightest step; on the landing, through the half-open door, he saw Milady fastening her bonnet. He walked into the room, closing the door behind him again. At the sound of his latching the door, Milady turned round. Athos stood before the door, wrapped in a cloak and with his hat drawn over his brows. Milady was terrified at the sight of this statueless, motionless face. who are you?What are you doing?cried Milady sharply. Yes, it really is her!murmured Athos. So he dropped his cloak, raised his felt hat, and walked towards Milady.

Do you still recognize me, ma'am?He said. Milady took a step forward, but then backed away like a swimming snake. Hi, said Atos, very good!I can tell you know me. Count Raphael!murmured Milady; she paled, and drew back till the wall barred her way. Yes, Milady, replied Athos, he is Count Raphael, who came here from another world, just for the pleasure of seeing his face.Let's sit down and, as His Excellency the Cardinal said, let's talk. Overwhelmed by an inexpressible terror, Milady sat down without a word. So you are a demon sent into the world?Athos said, I know that your energy is great; but you should also know that with the help of God, human beings often overcome the most terrible demons.You've been in my way, and I thought I'd crushed you, madam; but either I was mistaken, or hell brought you back.

These words evoke scenes of terror in Milady, and she sighs and bows her head. Yes, hell brought you back, said Athos, hell made you rich, hell changed your name, hell almost remade your face, but hell can't erase you The stain of the soul cannot erase the imprint of your flesh. As if driven by a clockwork, Milady stood up abruptly, her eyes sparkling with lightning.Athos stood still. You thought I was dead as I thought you were dead, didn't you?Just as you have used the name of Milady Claric to cover up Anna Breuil, so I have replaced Count Raphael with the name of Athos!Were you not named Anna Breuil when your honorable brother married you to me?We are in a strange situation, continued Athos, laughing, that we have lived each other only because we both thought the other was dead, and because the remembrance is less painful than seeing the living, cruel though it may sometimes be. of!

Anyway, said Milady in a low voice, who brought you to me?What do you want from me? I want to tell you that when I avoid your eyes and ears, I keep watching you! You know what I do? I can tell you of your deeds from day to day, from the time you began your service to the Cardinal, until tonight. A doubtful smile flicked across Milady's pale lips. You hear clearly: it was you who cut off two diamond pendants from Buckingham's shoulders; It was M. d'Artagnan who opened the door; it was you who, thinking that Walder had deceived you, tried to use one of his rivals to kill him; when that rival discovered your base secret, you sent two A killer went after him; found the bullet missed, you forged a false letter, and sent poisoned wine to make your victim believe that it was sent by his friend; in the end it was you, in this very house , sitting in the chair where I am now, having just made a deal with Cardinal Richelieu, that you will have someone assassinate the Duke of Buckingham in exchange for his promise to let you assassinate d'Artagnan.

Milady's face was ashen. Are you a devil?she says. Perhaps so, said Athos: But listen to me anyway: it does not matter to me whether you go to assassinate the Duke of Buckingham yourself or send someone to assassinate the Duke of Buckingham!I do not know him, and besides he is an Englishman; but you must not touch a hair of d'Artagnan, who is my favorite, and a faithful friend I will protect; otherwise, I swear to you on the head of my father. , if you do evil again, it will be the last time. M. d'Artagnan insulted me basely, said Milady in a low voice, M. d'Artagnan is dead.

Honestly, is it possible that someone insulted you, madam?Athos laughed and said, if he insulted you, he was dead? He was dead, said Milady again: Mrs. Bonacieur died first, and then he. Athos seemed to feel dizzy: the sight of this effeminate female creation brought back to him terrible memories; At one time he had wanted to sacrifice her for his own honor; now, the desire to kill came to him again like a fire, and spread to his whole body like a scorching fever. He stood up, pressed his hand on his belt, Draw the pistol and squeeze the trigger. Milady's face was as white as a zombie, and she wanted to scream, but her stiff tongue could only produce a neigh, which was nothing like human speech, but like the hoarse panting of a wild beast; her hair was disheveled, and her body was pressed against the dark The wallpaper is like a terrifying portrait.

Athos raised his pistol slowly, and stretched his arms so that the barrel almost touched Milady's forehead; his words were all the more frightening because of the extreme calm he maintained with his unalterable resolution. Madame, he said, hand me the cardinal's signature at once, or, on my soul, I will blow your head. If it had been another man, Milady might have suspected a little, but she knew Athos; but she remained motionless. Give you a second to make up your mind, he said. From the constriction of Athos's face, she saw that the bullet was about to be discharged; so she quickly raised her hand to her chest, took out a piece of paper, and handed it to Athos.

Take it, she said, damn it! Athos took the paper, put the pistol back in his girdle, and approached the lamp to ascertain whether it was the paper; he opened it and read: The holder of the article is subject to my secret order, and the activities he engages in are related to the interests of the country, and he is hereby allowed to act cheaply. Richelieu 3rd December 1627 And now said Athos, putting on his cloak and felt hat, now I have pulled out your teeth, you viper, bite if you can! With that, he walked out of the room without even glancing back. At the gate he found two men and a horse they were leading. Gentlemen, he cried, you know what your lordship has ordered you to bring the woman to La Pointe Fort in good time, and not to leave her until she is on board. These words were indeed consistent with the order they had received earlier, so the two men bowed and saluted, expressing their agreement. As for Athos, he rode lightly on his horse, and galloped away; but instead of following the road, he crossed the fields, galloping hard, and now and then reining in and listening. During a rein and listen, he heard the hooves of several horses on the road.He had no doubts that it was the Cardinal and his escort.Immediately he urged his horse on again, passed through the leafy groves, and finally crossed the road, and finally came to a place about two hundred paces from the camp. Password!He caught a glimpse of the group of people on horseback and shouted from afar. I believe it must be our brave musketeer, said the cardinal. Yes, my lord, answered Athos, I am Athos. Monsieur Athos, said Richelieu, accept my sincere thanks for keeping us strictly guarded; now, gentlemen, we are here, take the left door, the password is King and Ile de Re. The cardinal nodded his goodbyes to the three friends as he spoke, and walked to the right with his attendants, because he was also spending the night in the camp. Hi!When the cardinal was far away and could not hear them, Porthos and Aramis cried out in unison, Hi!He signed the paper Milady demanded! I know that, said Athos calmly, for I have the papers. Until the camp, apart from answering the guard's password, the three friends only talked about this sentence. They only sent Mousquedon to inform Planchet that his master, after his shift from the trench, should immediately go to the musketeers' quarters. And Milady, as Athos had foreseen, found the two waiting for her at the door of the inn, and followed them without a word.Before that, she wished so much that someone would lead her to the cardinal again and tell him everything. However, exposing Athos was tantamount to letting Athos expose her: she could say that Athos had hanged her, and Athos would say that she had been branded with lilies; and then she thought it best to go quietly and stealthily, with her wont tact, first to perform the difficult mission she had promised, and then, to wait Everything is done, and the cardinal is satisfied. At that time, he will go to the cardinal to ask for revenge for himself. At last, after a long night of fatigue, she arrived at Fort La Pointe at seven o'clock the next morning, at eight o'clock she was put on board, and at nine o'clock the armed ship, marked with the cardinal's private vessel license, , hoisted anchor, hoisted sail, and ostensibly set out for Baronne, but sailed on to England.