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The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
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The Three Musketeers 269 at Prostate Health
to answer them?"
"Reply to them, my Lord," said Felton; "the circumstances are more
serious than you perhaps believe."
Buckingham reflected that the young man, coming from Lord de Winter,
undoubtedly spoke in his name, and softened.
"Without remorse," said he. "The baron knows, as well as myself, that
Milady de Winter is a very guilty woman, and it is treating her very
favorably to commute her punishment to transportation."
The duke put his pen to the paper.
"You will not sign that order, my Lord!" said Felton, making a step
toward the duke.
"I will not sign this order! And why not?"
"Because you will look into yourself, and you will do justice to the
lady."
"I should do her justice by sending her to Tyburn," said Buckingham.
"This lady is infamous."
"My Lord, Milady de Winter is an angel; you know that she is, and I
demand her liberty of you."
"Bah! Are you mad, to talk to me thus?" said Buckingham.
"My Lord, excuse me! I speak as I can; I restrain myself. But, my
Lord, think of what youre about to do, and beware of going too far!"
"What do you say? God pardon me!" cried Buckingham, "I really think he
threatens me!"
"No, my Lord, I still plead. And I say to you: one drop of water
suffices to make the full vase overflow; one slight fault may draw down
punishment upon the head spared, despite many crimes."
"Mr. Felton," said Buckingham, "you will withdraw, and place yourself at
once under arrest."
"You will hear me to the end, my Lord. You have seduced this young
girl; you have outraged, defiled her. Repair your crimes toward her;
let her go free, and I will exact nothing else from you."
"You will exact!" said Buckingham, looking at Felton with astonishment,
and dwelling upon each syllable of the three words as he pronounced
them.
"My Lord," continued Felton, becoming more excited as he spoke, "my
Lord, beware! All England is tired of your iniquities; my Lord, you
have abused the royal power, which you have almost usurped; my Lord, you
are held in horror by God and men. God will punish you hereafter, but I
will punish you here!"
"Ah, this is too much!" cried Buckingham, making a step toward the door.
Felton barred his passage.
"I ask it humbly of you, my Lord," said he; "sign the order for the
liberation of Milady de Winter. Remember that she is a woman whom you
have dishonored."
"Withdraw, sir," said Buckingham, "or I will call my attendant, and have
you placed in irons."
"You shall not call," said Felton, throwing himself between the duke and
the bell placed on a stand encrusted with silver. "Beware, my Lord, you
are in the hands of God!"
"In the hands of the devil, you mean!" cried Buckingham, raising his
voice so as to attract the notice of his people, without absolutely
shouting.
"Sign, my Lord; sign the liberation of Milady de Winter," said Felton,
holding out a paper to the duke.
"By force? You are joking! Holloa, Patrick!"
"Sign, my Lord!"
"Never."
"Never?"
"Help!" shouted the duke; and at the same time he sprang toward his
sword.
But Felton did not give him time to draw it. He held the knife with
which Milady had stabbed herself, open in his bosom; at one bound he was
upon the duke.
At that moment Patrick entered the room, crying, "A letter from France,
my Lord."
"From France!" cried Buckingham, forgetting everything in thinking from
whom that letter came.
Felton took advantage of this moment, and plunged the knife into his
side up to the handle.
"Ah, traitor," cried Buckingham, "you have killed me!"
"Murder!" screamed Patrick.
Felton cast his eyes round for means of escape, and seeing the door
free, he rushed into the next chamber, in which, as we have said, the
deputies from La Rochelle were waiting, crossed it as quickly as
possible, and rushed toward the staircase; but upon the first step he
met Lord de Winter, who, seeing him pale, confused, livid, and stained
with blood both on his hands and face, seized him by the throat, crying,
"I knew it! I guessed it! But too late by a minute, unfortunate,
unfortunate that I am!"
Felton made no resistance. Lord de Winter placed him in the hands of
the guards, who led him, while awaiting further orders, to a little
terrace commanding the sea; and then the baron hastened to the dukes
chamber.
At the cry uttered by the duke and the scream
The Three Musketeers page 268 The Three Musketeers page 270 |
