Chapter 67 Chapter 65 Trial

It was a stormy and gloomy night, with great clouds running across the sky, eclipsing the stars; the moon would not rise until midnight. Sometimes, a bolt of lightning flashes across the sky, and pedestrians can vaguely discern the white road stretching forward alone; when the lightning disappears, everything returns to darkness. D'Artagnan always broke away from the group and went forward, Athos reminded him every moment to rejoin the group, but after a moment, he abandoned the group again; he had only one thought in his mind, and that was to go forward , so he went forward and forward and forward.

They passed quietly through Festubel's village, where the wounded servant was still recuperating.Then they proceeded through the Richburg woods; and when they reached Airlie, Planchet, who had been the guide of the hussars, turned to the left. Lord Winter, or Porthos, or Aramis, tried several times to speak to the man in the red cloak, but he bowed and did not answer each time a question was put to him.Then the group realized that the stranger must have a reason for keeping silent, so they stopped talking to him. However, the storm intensified, the lightning came one after another, the thunder began to roar, and the herald of the storm roared across the plain, stirring the crests of the knights' hair.

The light cavalry team urged the horses to trot. Not far from Ferromere came a storm; they spread their cloaks; and there were but two or three leagues to go, and they walked these two or three leagues under the pouring rain. D'Artagnan not only did not put on his cloak, but he even took off his felt hat; he was willing to let the rain flow down his hot forehead and body that was trembling with heat. As the little procession passed through the village of Goscar, and was about to reach the posting station, a man hiding under a tree rushed out from behind the trunk, which was indistinguishable from the shadow in which he was, and came straight to the middle of the road, and with one finger placed on the lips.

Athos recognized Grimer. What's the matter?asked d'Artagnan aloud, did she say that she had left Amentières? Grimmer nodded in the affirmative.D'Artagnan gritted his teeth. Be still, d'Artagnan!Athos said that I will direct everything, so I will also ask Grimaud. where is she nowasked Athos. Grimmer stretched out his hand and pointed in the direction of the River Lys. Is it far from here?asked Athos again. Grimmer held out a crooked forefinger to his master. Just her?asked Athos. Grimmer nodded affirmatively. Gentlemen, the woman is alone, half a mile from here in the direction of the River Lys.

Very well, said d'Artagnan, show us the way, Grimer. Grimmer walked across the field and acted as guide for the procession. After walking about five hundred paces, they came across a brook, which they waded across. In the light of a bolt of lightning, they vaguely saw the village of Ercangenm. Is it here?asked d'Artagnan. Grimmer shook his head in a negative expression. do not speak!said Athos. The team continued on their way. Another flash of lightning flashed; Grimmer stretched out his arm and pointed, and under the blue-blue lightning like a fiery snake, they clearly saw a solitary hut lying on the banks of the Lys River about a hundred paces from a ferryboat.There was a light in one window.

Here we are, said Athos. At this moment, a person lying in the ditch got up, it was Musqueton; He pointed to the lighted window. There she is, he said. What about Bazin?asked Athos. When I came to watch the window, he went to watch the gate. Well, said Athos, you are all faithful servants. Athos dismounted from his horse, handed the reins to Grimer, and beckoning to the rest of the cavalry to flank the door, he dived alone to the window. The little house was surrounded by a hedge two or three feet high.Athos climbed over the fence until he came to the open window, but the half-height curtains kept it well shut.

He climbed up to the sill of the window so that his eyes could peer in beyond the height of the curtains. By the dim light of a lamp, Athos saw a woman wrapped in a dark cloak, sitting on a stool by a fire that was still warm, with her elbows resting on a rotting wooden table, she was so white. His head was resting on his ivory-like hands. Athos couldn't see her face clearly, but there was a sinister smile on the corner of Athos' lips: Unmistakable, this was the woman he had been looking for. Just then a horse neighed, and Milady raised her head, and seeing the pale face of Athos pressed against the window, she gave a cry.

Knowing that he was recognized, Athos pushed the window with his knees and hands, and it flew open, and the glass was broken. Athos leaps into the room like a vengeful ghost. Milady ran to the door and opened it; a face paler and more menacing than Athos blocked the way, and it was D'Artagnan who stood on the threshold. With a cry Milady stepped back.D'Artagnan drew his pistol from his side, fearing that she would again try to escape, and lest she slip from them again; but Athos held up his hand to stop her. Put away the things, d'Artagnan, he said, the important thing is that this woman should be judged, not that she should be killed now.Wait a little longer, d'Artagnan, and you will be satisfied.Come in, everyone.

D'Artagnan obeyed, because Athos' tone was solemn, his manner was mighty, and he was like a judge sent by God.So, following d'Artagnan, Porthos, Aramis, Lord de Winter, and the man in the red cloak all entered the cabin together. Four servants guarded the doors and windows. Milady sank back in her chair, and stretched out her hands, as if in supplication for the dreadful presence; but when she caught a glimpse of her brother-in-law, she uttered a dreadful cry. What are you going to do?asked Milady yelling. We want, said Athos, Charlotte Baxon, who called herself first the Countess Raphael, then the Lady of Winter, and the Baroness of Sheffield.

it's me!it's me!She muttered in utter horror, what do you want from me? We will judge you for your crimes, said Athos, and you are free to defend yourself, to plead your innocence, if you can.M. d'Artagnan, you make the first charge. dArtagnan stepped forward. To God, to man, he said, I accuse this woman of poisoning Constance Bonnacer last night. He turned and looked at Porthos and Aramis. We bear witness to this, said the two musketeers in unison. D'Artagnan went on to indict: In the face of God and man, I accuse this woman of having tried to poison herself by poisoning the wine she sent me from Villeroy with a forged letter pretending that the wine was my friend From; God saved me, but a man died for me, and his name was Brismond.

We testify, said Porthos and Aramis with one voice. Before God and man, I accuse this woman of inciting me to assassinate Baron Walder; but no one can prove the veracity of this accusation, I myself testify. My charges are over. D'Artagnan went to the other side of the room and stood with Porthos and Aramis. It's your turn, my lord!said Athos. Lord Winter came over. Before God and man, he said, I accuse this woman of having the Duke of Buckingham killed. The Duke of Buckingham was killed?Everyone around shouted together. Yes, said the Baron, he was murdered!According to the notification letter you wrote to me, I sent someone to arrest this woman and hand her over to one of my loyal subordinates to watch; she corrupted the man and put a dagger into his hand, so that He went to assassinate the Duke.But at this point, Felton may be paying for that mad crime with his head. Hearing that these unknown crimes were revealed, all the trial judges present shuddered. The matter was not over, said Lord Winter, that my brother had died in three hours of a strange disease which left gray spots all over his body.Before he died, my brother asked you to be his heir.Now I want to ask you, my sister-in-law, how did your husband die? terrible!exclaimed Porthos and Aramis. You are the murderer of Buckingham, you are the murderer of Felton, you are the murderer of my brother, and I will do justice to you, so I solemnly declare that if no one punishes her for me, I will punish myself she. Lord Winter came to D'Artagnan's side and stood still, leaving room for others to accuse. Milady held her drooping head in her hands, and tried to recall thoughts clouded by a fatal vertigo. Now is my turn, said Athos, shaking his body like a lion shaking his mane at the sight of a viper, it is my turn.I married her when she was a girl; I married her despite the objections of my family; I gave her my property, I gave her my name; and one day I found this woman branded After the fire mark, the woman's left shoulder was branded with the mark of a lily flower. Ha ha!Milady stood up and said, I don't think there may be a court that will sentence me shamelessly.I don't think I may be able to find someone who will execute my sentence. Please shut up, said a voice.On this matter, it is up to me to answer! The man in the red cloak approached. Who is this guy?Who is this guy?When Milady cried, her voice was choked with terror, her hair was disheveled with terror, and stood on end as if alive in her livid head. All eyes turned to the man, for he was a stranger to all but Athos. Athos looked at him with the same astonishment as the others, for he did not know how this man could have participated in something of this terrible tragedy which was now about to be unraveled. As the stranger approached Milady with slow, stately steps, until he was within a table of her, he took off his mask. Milady gazed for a moment, with growing horror, at the pale cheek framed by black hair and thick beard, on which the only expression was impassive indifference; then Milady rose suddenly, and retreated to the wall. , saying aloud: oh!No!No!No!No!This is the ghost of hell!It's not him!help me!help me!She shouted in a hoarse voice, and at the same time turned her face towards the wall, as if she could use her hands to pave a way for herself to escape. Who are you?All the witnesses at the scene asked loudly together. Please ask this woman, the man in the red cloak said, because you can see clearly, she recognized me. Executioner of Lille!Executioner of Lille!roared Milady; she was tormented by the terror of insanity, holding on to the wall with both hands to keep from falling. Everyone got out of the way, only the man in the red cloak was still standing in the middle of the room. oh!Forgive me!Forgive me!forgive me!The mean woman knelt down and yelled for mercy. The stranger waited for the silence to return. I have told you all that she has recognized me!He added, she was right, I am the executioner of Lille, and now I will tell you the whole story. All eyes were on this man, and everyone waited for him to speak with eager commotion. The woman was just as beautiful when she was a girl as she is today.She was a nun at the Benedictine convent of Tempe Mar.A pure and pious young priest presides over the church of the convent; Milady seduces him with schemes, and she succeeds in seducing, she can almost seduce even saints. The two sides swore to each other forever, and they will always be in love together; but their relationship cannot last for a long time, otherwise, both sides will be ruined.She finally persuaded the young priest and agreed to leave the place together.But to leave the country, to run away together, to go to other parts of France, where it is possible to live in peace, because no one knows them, but they must be rich; but neither of them has money.The priest stole several holy bottles and sold them; but when they were about to escape together, both were caught and brought to justice. A week later, Milady seduced the jailer's son and escaped from prison.The young priest was sentenced to ten years in chains and branded.As the woman said, I was the executioner of Lille.I was compelled to brand the criminal, and the criminal, gentlemen, was my brother! At that time I cursed that the woman who made my brother fall into this situation, she was not just his accomplice, since she instigated my brother to commit crimes, she should at least share the same punishment.I guessed where she was hiding, I pursued her, I found her, bound her, and branded her the same brand I branded my own brother. The day after I returned to Lille, my brother also escaped from prison, and I was accused of being his accomplice, and I was sentenced to serve him in prison until he surrendered, which my poor brother did not know. , he found the woman again, and they both fled together again to Bury, where my brother again took a job as curate, and the woman pretended to be her sister. The local lord where the priest's church is located took a fancy to the so-called younger sister, and had a soft spot for her, and finally proposed to her to marry her.So, that woman left the person she had ruined, and followed the man she would ruin, and she became the Countess Raphael All eyes turned to Athos, for this was his real name, and he nodded, expressing that what the executioner had just said was true. At this point, continued the executioner, my poor brother, mad with rage, and feeling hopeless, determined to get back to Lille again, from all the life, happiness, and honor she had deprived her of.When he learned that I had been sentenced to prison for him, he surrendered himself, and that night hanged himself on the transom of his cell. However, justice should be given to those who sentenced me to prison, because they kept their promises, and if the body was found to be authentic, they would restore my freedom. That's what I'm going to charge her with, that's why I'm going to brand her. Monsieur d'Artagnan, said Athos, what do you demand of this woman? capital offense!d'Artagnan replied. Lord Winter, Athos went on, what crime do you demand against this woman? capital offense!said Lord Winter. Messrs. Porthos and Aramis, asked Athos, what crime do you think she should condemn, you two as her judges? capital offense!replied the musketeers in low voices. Milady uttered a terrible howl, and moved a few steps, dragging her knees, towards the two inquisitors. Athos held out his hand to her: Anna Breuil, Countess Raphael, Lady of Winter, said, Men on earth and God in heaven are weary of your sins.If you can pray anything, say it, for you are condemned and you are about to die. At these words, which left her no hope, Milady rose straight up, as if to speak, but she was exhausted; she felt a strong, merciless hand grasping her hair, Like the god of retribution, dragging her irretrievably like a human being, she walked out of the hut without even intending to resist. Lord de Winter, d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis followed her.The servants followed closely behind the master, leaving only the shattered window, the open doorway, and the smoking oil lamp still shining miserably on the table, accompanying the lonely house.