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Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Three Musketeers 259 at Prostate Health
then, to combat the fast of the
evening with the nourishment of the morning.
"Only I concealed a glass of water, which remained after my
breakfast, thirst having been the chief of my sufferings when I
remained forty-eight hours without eating or drinking.
"The day passed away without having any other influence on me
than to strengthen the resolution I had formed; only I took care
that my face should not betray the thoughts of my heart, for I
had no doubt I was watched. Several times, even, I felt a smile
on my lips. Felton, I dare not tell you at what idea I smiled;
you would hold me in horror--"
"Go on! go on!" said Felton; "you see plainly that I listen, and
that I am anxious to know the end."
"Evening came; the ordinary events took place. During the
darkness, as before, my supper was brought. Then the lamp was
lighted, and I sat down to table. I only ate some fruit. I
pretended to pour out water from the jug, but I only drank that
which I had saved in my glass. The substitution was made so
carefully that my spies, if I had any, could have no suspicion of
it.
"After supper I exhibited the same marks of languor as on the
preceding evening; but this time, as I yielded to fatigue, or as
if I had become familiarized with danger, I dragged myself toward
my bed, let my robe fall, and lay down.
"I found my knife where I had placed it, under my pillow, and
while feigning to sleep, my hand grasped the handle of it
convulsively.
"Two hours passed away without anything fresh happening. Oh, my
God! who could have said so the evening before? I began to fear
that he would not come.
"At length I saw the lamp rise softly, and disappear in the
depths of the ceiling; my chamber was filled with darkness and
obscurity, but I made a strong effort to penetrate this darkness
and obscurity.
"Nearly ten minutes passed; I heard no other noise but the
beating of my own heart. I implored heaven that he might come.
"At length I heard the well-known noise of the door, which opened
and shut; I heard, notwithstanding the thickness of the carpet, a
step which made the floor creak; I saw, notwithstanding the
darkness, a shadow which approached my bed."
"Haste! haste!" said Felton; "do you not see that each of your
words burns me like molten lead?"
"Then," continued Milady, "then I collected all my strength; I
recalled to my mind that the moment of vengeance, or rather, of
justice, had struck. I looked upon myself as another Judith; I
gathered myself up, my knife in my hand, and when I saw him near
me, stretching out his arms to find his victim, then, with the
last cry of agony and despair, I struck him in the middle of his
breast.
"The miserable villain! He had foreseen all. His breast was
covered with a coat-of-mail; the knife was bent against it.
"Ah, ah! cried he, seizing my arm, and wresting from me the
weapon that had so badly served me, you want to take my life, do
you, my pretty Puritan? But thats more than dislike, thats
ingratitude! Come, come, calm yourself, my sweet girl! I
thought you had softened. I am not one of those tyrants who
detain women by force. You dont love me. With my usual fatuity
I doubted it; now I am convinced. Tomorrow you shall be free.
"I had but one wish; that was that he should kill me.
"Beware! said I, for my liberty is your dishonor.
"Explain yourself, my pretty sibyl!
"Yes; for as soon as I leave this place I will tell everything.
I will proclaim the violence you have used toward me. I will
describe my captivity. I will denounce this place of infamy.
You are placed on high, my Lord, but tremble! Above you there is
the king; above the king there is God!
"However perfect master he was over himself, my persecutor
allowed a movement of anger to escape him. I could not see the
expression of his countenance, but I felt the arm tremble upon
which my hand was placed.
"Then you shall not leave this place, said he.
"Very well, cried I, then the place of my punishment will be
that of my tomb. I will die here, and you will see
The Three Musketeers page 258 The Three Musketeers page 260 |
