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deBaradas, by the Comte de Cramail, and by the Chevalier deSouveray.
Bonacieux,giving to his countenance a most sly air.
If the windowhad been
open or even ajar, I should think nothing of it; but,no--all was hermetically
sealed.
"Oh, you may even see her if you like, my dear Mr. "What is become of
her? I suppose you mean--" continuedd'Artagnan. "Seeing this, the gentleman
drew his sword, and sprang upond'Artagnan; but he had too strong an adversary.
He askedwhere their masters were, and was informed that they had passedthe
night in the inn, and were then settling their bill with thehost. ""I promise
it.
"No misfortune has happened to the queen?" cried Buckingham, theinstant he
came up, throwing all his fear and love into thequestion. Although d'Artagnan
did not at all know the queen, he soondistinguished her voice from the others,
at first by a slightlyforeign accent, and next by that tone of domination
naturallyimpressed upon all royal words.
"Mine wascarried away by a ball.
Butdoes your Grace mean to give me the studs without the casket?""The casket
would encumber you.
"The stranger went out. ""Adieu, master!""A good journey,
gentlemen! Do you want anything?"D'Artagnan shook his head, and set off at
full speed.
Let each take seventy-five; that isenough to take us to London
and back.
deTreville of women in general, did not inspire him with the
leastsuspicion of his pretty hostess.
We must, then, as it appears tome,
travel in company.
He found as provident a host and afresh horse.
"This
means, sire," replied the cardinal, "that I was desirous ofpresenting her
Majesty with these two studs, and that not daringto offer them myself, I
adopted this means of inducing her toaccept them.
de Wardes with such terrible
coin. "What is that?" asked Aramis. Who are these gentleman?""Three of the
king's Musketeers. Hiseyes were fixed upon those of the queen, and a smile of
terriblejoy passed over his lips; the queen did not wear her diamondstuds. de
Treville, "what has become of yourthree companions?""I was about to ask you if
you had heard any news of them?""None, monsieur. "Well, then, since she has
left Paris, andyou are sure of it, d'Artagnan, nothing prevents me, and I
amready to follow you. "The valet went out with a mute promptitude which showed
himaccustomed to obey blindly and without reply.
D'Artagnan and Planchet took
each a posthorse, and a postillion rode before them.
Whatthe devil! They
merit richly that piece of attention on yourpart.
"I will answer for it," said
Bonacieux. But you," continued M.
"There are in this bagthree hundred
pistoles.
He had made nearly sixty leaguesin little more than twelve hours.
The attention which we have been obliged to give, during thecommencement of the
chapter, to the illustrious personages wehave introduced into it, has diverted
us for an instant from himto whom Anne of Austria owed the extraordinary
triumph she hadobtained over the cardinal; and who, confounded, unknown, lost
inthe crowd gathered at one of the doors, looked on at this
scene,comprehensible only to four persons--the king, the queen, hisEminence,
and himself.
""To the waters of Forges?""There or elsewhere.
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