Chapter 52 Chapter 50: A Conversation Between Uncles and Sisters

While Lord Winter shut the door, drew the shutters, and moved a chair to lean against his sister-in-law's armchair, the brooding Milady had to see the possibility, to find that she was even kept in the dark. of all the plots, because she didn't know whose hands she had fallen into.She knew his brother-in-law to be a good gentleman, a good hunter, an indomitable gambler, and a bold warrior with women, but he paled in comparison to her in terms of intrigue.How could he have discovered her arrival?How could he send someone to catch her?Why did he put her under house arrest? Athos had said a few words to her, proving that her conversation with the cardinal had fallen into the ears of outsiders, but she could not accept that he was able to lay down countermeasures so swiftly and boldly.

She is particularly worried about being discovered about her previous activities in the UK.Buckingham might have guessed that it was she who had cut off the two diamond pendants, and he might have retaliated for this small act of treachery; but Buckingham could not have gone too far against a woman, especially if he was seen to have done it out of jealousy. She did it, this woman. This speculation seemed to her the most likely; she felt that someone was trying to revenge the past, not to prevent it from happening.Besides, after all, she was glad that she fell into the hands of her brother-in-law, which was considered cheap, which was much better than falling directly into the hands of a shrewd enemy.

Well, let's talk, brother, she said with a kind of humor; and she felt that though Lord Winter's talk might be secretive, she was determined to find out from it what she needed to adjust her future conduct. In Paris you have often expressed to me that you would never set foot on English soil again, said Lord Winter, and despite your determination, have you decided to return to England? Milady answered this question with another question. First of all, tell me, she said, how you managed to keep me under such close watch, not only knowing in advance that I was coming, but also knowing the day, time, and port of arrival.

Lord Winter adopted the same tactic as Milady's, and since his sister-in-law had adopted it, he thought it a good one. But tell me, my dear sister-in-law, what your lord is doing in England. I came to see you, replied Milady; she only wanted to win over her brother-in-law by telling a lie, but she did not know how such an answer would deepen d'Artagnan's letter, in his mind. Doubts have arisen. Well!come see me?Lord Winter asked treacherously. Of course I'm here to see you.What's the surprise? You have come to England for no other purpose than to see me? No. So you're bothering to cross the English Channel just for me?

Just to see you. Yo!What tender love, sister-in-law! Am I not your dearest person?asked Milady with the most touching simplicity. Even my only heir to the estate, isn't it?said Lord Winter, looking her in the eyes. Whatever self-control Milady possessed, she could not refrain from shrinking, for Lord Winter had laid his hand on his sister-in-law's arm as he spoke, and could not escape his feeling. Sure enough, this move was accurate and powerful.The first thought that came into Milady's mind was that she had been betrayed by Katie: she had casually expressed her dislike to certain people in front of this maid, and Katie had passed it on to the maid. The baron; she remembered the frenzied attack she had made upon D'Artagnan after he had saved her brother-in-law's life.

I don't understand what you mean, my lord, she just said that in order to buy time and cause the other party to talk more. What do you want to say?Do you have something to say? oh!No, my God, said Lord Winter with a simple face: you meant to see me, and you came to England.I know you mean it, or rather I expect you to feel it; and to spare you all the trouble of arriving in port late at night, and the fatigue of disembarking, I have sent an officer to fetch you; I gave him a carriage to arrange, and he sent you to this castle under my management.I come here every day, and in order to satisfy our double desire to see each other, I have a bedroom prepared for you in the castle.Is there anything more surprising in what I have said than in what you have just said to me?

No, I find it surprising that you were notified before I arrived. It is the simplest thing, my dear sister-in-law: don't you see that when your merchant ship comes into the berth, the captain pre-sends a runabout with log book and crew book to get the entry Hong Kong license?I am the commander-in-chief of the port, and someone sent me the formalities. I found your name there, and my heart told me what you just said to me yourself, that is to say, you are pregnant. For what purpose, in spite of the danger of the rough sea, or at least the fatigue of crossing the sea, I sent my little speedboat to fetch you, and you know the rest.

Milady knew that Lord Winter was lying, and she was all the more frightened for it. Brother, she went on, I saw the Duke of Buckingham standing on the jetty when I came in at night, was that him? It was him.aha!I see, it surprises you to see him, said Lord Winter. You come from a country where people should be very careful. I know that the Duke's military equipment against France worries your friend the Cardinal. My friend Cardinal!Milady exclaimed; for she found that, on one point and on the other, Lord Winter seemed to understand it all. So he's not your friend?said the Baron casually, Ah!I'm sorry, I thought it was; but let's talk about the Duke later, don't diverge from the emotional topic we just talked about, you said, you came to see me?

yes. Well then, I have assured you that you will be taken care of as you wish, and we can see each other every day. So I have to live here forever?asked Milady with a certain fear. You don't feel comfortable living here, sister-in-law?If you need anything, I will send someone to bring it to you immediately. I have neither maid nor servant now You will have all this, madam; tell me, your first husband, to what standard did you furnish your room?Although I am only your brother-in-law, I will definitely arrange a similar room for you. My first husband!cried Milady to Lord Winter, with terrified eyes.

Yes, your French husband; I do not mean my brother.However, if you forget the French husband, I can write to him, because he is still alive, and he will tell me about it. Cold sweat rolled down Milady's forehead. Are you kidding me?she said in a low voice. Do I look like a joke?The Baron stood up and took a step back. Or are you insulting me?" She put her convulsed hands on the armchair handles and stood up, braced on her wrists. insult you, me!said Lord Winter contemptuously, "Truly, ma'am, do you think it is possible?" I tell the truth too, sir, said Milady, you are either drunk or insane; go out, please, and send me a maid.

A woman's mouth is not tight, sister-in-law!I can't be your maid?If so, the family scandal will not be publicized. So presumptuous!Milady roared; she sprang, as if at clockwork, before the baron, who waited motionless for her, but kept his hand on the hilt of his sword. Hey!Hey!He said, I know, you are used to assassination, but I will defend myself, even against you, I will notify you in advance. oh!You are right, said Milady, that you strike me as cowardly, to raise your hand to hit a woman. Maybe, but I'll have my justification: because maybe my hand wasn't the first man's hand to fall on you, I suppose. The Baron then pointed to Milady's shoulder with a gesture of accusation, his fingers almost touching. Milady let out a deep growl, and retreated like a leopard ready to fight back, until she retreated to a corner of the room. ah!Roar as much as you like, cried Lord Winter, but don't try to bite, I tell you beforehand, for it will be self-defeating: there are no attorneys here who pre-settled inheritances, and no wanderers The knight, came to quarrel with me for a pretty lady I held a prisoner; and I have a judge who is about to deal with a rather shameless woman, because the bigamous woman has the audacity to slip into my brother Lord Winter's bed; and I tell you before that those judges will hand you over to an executioner, who will make your shoulders alike. Milady's eyes flashed two menacing lights, and though Lord Winter was a man in full arms before a defenseless woman, he felt a chill go through him; but he did not let it rest, Instead, he became even more angry. Yes, I know in my heart that after inheriting my brother's property, you also want to inherit my property securely, but please understand one thing first, you can kill me yourself, or send someone to kill me, but I have taken precautions that not a single penny of my property should go to you.Aren't you rich already, don't you have close to a million, and if you do bad things just for endless insane fun, can't you stop in your doomed path?ah!Mind you, if my brother's posthumous reputation didn't matter to me, you'd go to the State Penitentiary for life, or go to Tyburn to gratify the curiosity of sailors; Quietly endure as a prisoner.Wait another half month or twenty days, and I will go to La Rochelle with the army. On the first day before departure, a warship will come to pick you up. I want to watch that ship set sail and send you to the southern colonies; but Don't worry, I will definitely send you another companion. If you make any attempt to return to England or the mainland, he will penetrate your head. Milady listened intently, her burning eyes dilated. Yes, but now, went on Lord Winter, you must live in this castle, its walls are thick, its doors are solid, its bars are strong; and your room The windows are steep towards the sea, and my crew, loyal to life and death, are sentry around your house, watching all the roads leading to the yard; besides!Even if you go out of the yard, you have to go through three layers of iron fences.The injunction is accurate: a throw of the foot, a gesture of the hand, a word of pretend escape, and someone will shoot you; if you are killed, the British judiciary will thank me for solving a trouble for them, I hope It will be like this.ah!Your expression is regaining composure, and your face is regaining confidence. You will say: half a month, twenty days, huh!In the meantime, with my resourceful mind, I'll figure it out; with my diabolical wit, I'll find a scapegoat.You think well, within half a month, I will definitely get out from here.Aha, just try it! Milady realized that her thoughts had been seen through, and pinched her muscles with her nails, trying to control as much as possible a certain connotation on her face, or a certain painful expression. Lord Winter continued: When I wasn't there, the officer ran everything here alone, and you've seen him, so you already know him.You can see that he knows how to obey the prohibition, because I know you, you came here from Portsmouth, and you tried every means to make him talk all the way.What do you think of him?Could a marble statue be colder and more silent than he?You've seduced many men, and unfortunately you've always been successful; but try it on him, it's ok!If you get him too, I will declare to you that you are the Great Witch. He walked to the door and opened it suddenly. Send for Felton, he ordered, and please wait a moment, and I will entrust you to him at once. Both men were silent.In the midst of this silence, they heard a steady and rhythmic step advancing; a figure emerged from the dark passage; the young lieutenant whom we had already known stopped at the door, awaiting the baron's order. Come in, my dear John, said Lord Winter, come in, and close the door. The young officer entered the room. Now, said the baron, please look at this woman, she is young, beautiful, she has all the charms of the world, but she is a witch, made herself a criminal at the age of twenty-five, and her crimes are in our courts The dossier is enough for you to look at for a year; her voice builds her liking, her looks serve as bait to seduce a victim, and her body pays her promises, which is a fair assessment of her; she will try to seduce you , and maybe even want to kill you.I rescued you from poverty, Felton, I made you a lieutenant, and you know on what occasion I saved your life; I was to you not only a protector, but a friend, not only a benefactor, but It's the father; this woman came to England to kill me; and now I've caught the viper; well, I'll send for you to say to you: Felton friend, John, my boy, for I, especially for yourself, guard this woman; and by your eternal blessing, guard her, that she may get what she deserves.John Felton, I trust your oath; John Felton, I trust your loyalty. My lord, said the young officer; his pure eyes were filled with all the hatred he could find in his heart, my lord, I swear to you that everything will be as you wish. Milady accepted this gaze with humility like a sacrificial offering, and no one could have seen a more submissive and gentle expression than that on her handsome face at this moment; The image of this tigress is almost gone. She must never leave this room, do you hear, John, went on the baron, she can't correspond with anyone, and if you want to do her any favors, she can only speak to you. Yes, my lord, I have sworn it. Now, madam, please try to make peace with God, because you are now judged by men. Milady hung her head involuntarily, as if feeling overwhelmed by the trial.Lord Winter motioned to Felton to go out, and Felton followed suit and closed the door behind him. After a while, the heavy footsteps of a navy soldier came to stand guard in the corridor. He had an ax on his waist and a musket in his hand. Milady remained silent for some minutes in the same position, thinking that perhaps someone was watching her through the keyhole; He listened at the door, looked at the window, then sank into a large armchair to think.