The Three Musketeers | Page 7

Where is he?"
"In my wife's chamber, on the first flight, where they are dressing his wounds."
"His things and his bag are with him? Has he taken off his doublet?"
"On the contrary, everything is in the kitchen. But if he annoys you, this young fool--"
"To be sure he does. He causes a disturbance in your hostelry, which respectable people
cannot put up with. Go; make out my bill and notify my servant."
"What, monsieur, will you leave us so soon?"
"You know that very well, as I gave my order to saddle my horse. Have they not obeyed
me?"
"It is done; as your Excellency may have observed, your horse is in the great gateway,
ready saddled for your departure."
"That is well; do as I have directed you, then."
"What the devil!" said the host to himself. "Can he be afraid of this boy?" But an
imperious glance from the stranger stopped him short; he bowed humbly and retired.
"It is not necessary for Milady* to be seen by this fellow," continued the stranger. "She
will soon pass; she is already late. I had better get on horseback, and go and meet her. I
should like, however, to know what this letter addressed to Treville contains."
*We are well aware that this term, milady, is only properly used when followed by a
family name. But we find it thus in the manuscript, and we do not choose to take upon
ourselves to alter it.
And the stranger, muttering to himself, directed his steps toward the kitchen.
In the meantime, the host, who entertained no doubt that it was the presence of the young
man that drove the stranger from his hostelry, re-ascended to his wife's chamber, and
found d'Artagnan just recovering his senses. Giving him to understand that the police
would deal with him pretty severely for having sought a quarrel with a great lord--for the
opinion of the host the stranger could be nothing less than a great lord--he insisted that
notwithstanding his weakness d'Artagnan should get up and depart as quickly as possible.
D'Artagnan, half stupefied, without his doublet, and with his head bound up in a linen
cloth, arose then, and urged by the host, began to descend the stairs; but on arriving at the
kitchen, the first thing he saw was his antagonist talking calmly at the step of a heavy

carriage, drawn by two large Norman horses.
His interlocutor, whose head appeared through the carriage window, was a woman of
from twenty to two-and-twenty years. We have already observed with what rapidity
d'Artagnan seized the expression of a countenance. He perceived then, at a glance, that
this woman was young and beautiful; and her style of beauty struck him more forcibly
from its being totally different from that of the southern countries in which d'Artagnan
had hitherto resided. She was pale and fair, with long curls falling in profusion over her
shoulders, had large, blue, languishing eyes, rosy lips, and hands of alabaster. She was
talking with great animation with the stranger.
"His Eminence, then, orders me--" said the lady.
"To return instantly to England, and to inform him as soon as the duke leaves London."
"And as to my other instructions?" asked the fair traveler.
"They are contained in this box, which you will not open until you are on the other side
of the Channel."
"Very well; and you--what will you do?"
"I--I return to Paris."
"What, without chastising this insolent boy?" asked the lady.
The stranger was about to reply; but at the moment he opened his mouth, d'Artagnan,
who had heard all, precipitated himself over the threshold of the door.
"This insolent boy chastises others," cried he; "and I hope that this time he whom he
ought to chastise will not escape him as before."
"Will not escape him?" replied the stranger, knitting his brow.
"No; before a woman you would dare not fly, I presume?"
"Remember," said Milady, seeing the stranger lay his hand on his sword, "the least delay
may ruin everything."
"You are right," cried the gentleman; "begone then, on your part, and I will depart as
quickly on mine." And bowing to the lady, sprang into his saddle, while her coachman
applied his whip vigorously to his horses. The two interlocutors thus separated, taking
opposite directions, at full gallop.
"Pay him, booby!" cried the stranger to his servant, without checking the speed of his
horse; and the man, after throwing two or three silver pieces at the foot of mine host,
galloped after his master.
"Base coward! false gentleman!" cried d'Artagnan, springing forward, in his turn, after

the servant. But his wound had rendered him too weak to support such an exertion.
Scarcely had he gone ten steps when his ears began to tingle, a