The Three Musketeers (The Modern Library) - Alexandre Dumas [190]
“Nothing is impossible to true love!” Milady answered.
“Nothing, Madame?”
“Nothing!”
(“The Devil!” thought D’Artagnan. “She has changed her tune! Is this fickle and wayward beauty about to fall in love with me, by any chance? Will she be disposed to give the real me another sapphire like the one I got for playing de Vardes?”)
Impulsively he drew his chair closer to Milady’s.
“Tell me now,” she coaxed, “what would you do to prove this love you boast of?”
“Everything that could be required of me. Command me, I am at your service.”
“Everything?”
“Everything!” D’Artagnan promised blithely, for he knew he had little to risk in making such a pledge.
“Well then, let us talk it over,” she suggested as in her turn she drew her armchair closer to D’Artagnan’s chair.
“I am all attention, Madame.”
For a moment Milady seemed pensive and undecided; then, as if abruptly coming to a decision:
“I have an enemy,” she began.
“You, Madame?” cried D’Artagnan, feigning surprise. “How in Heaven’s name is that possible? An enemy—you, good and beautiful as you are?”
“A mortal enemy.”
“I cannot believe it.”
“An enemy who has insulted me so cruelly that it is war to the death between us. May I reckon upon you as an ally and an auxiliary?”
D’Artagnan immediately understood on what ground the vindictive creature wished to base the argument.
“You may indeed, Madame,” he said grandiloquently. “My arm and my life belong to you, as does my love, forever!”
“Ah, since you are as generous as you are loving—”
She stopped.
“Well?”
“Well,” Milady continued after a moment of silence, “pray cease from this moment on to talk about impossibilities.”
“Oh, do not overwhelm me with happiness,” cried D’Artagnan, throwing himself on his knees and showering kisses upon the hands she surrendered to him.
(“Avenge me upon that infamous de Vardes,” Milady muttered between her teeth, “and I shall easily get rid of you, too, you preposterous moon calf, you animated swordblade!”)
(“O hypocritical and dangerous woman, throw yourself willingly into my arms after having abused me so brazenly,” mused D’Artagnan, “and, when it is over, I shall laugh at you with the man you wish me to kill!”)
D’Artagnan raised his head:
“I am ready!” he declared.
“So you have understood me, my good Monsieur D’Artagnan.”
“I could read your thought in a single one of your glances.”
“And that arm of yours which has already won so much renown—you would employ it on my behalf.”
“Instantly, if you command.”
“But on part, Monsieur, how am I to repay such a service?” she asked. “I know what lovers are. They never do something for nothing.”
“Madame, you know the only reply I crave, the only one worthy of you and me!”
As he drew nearer to her, she scarcely resisted.
“You look to your own advantage,” she said, smiling.
D’Artagnan, now really swept away by the passion this woman could so easily arouse within him, gazed ardently at her.
“Ah,” he said fervently, “that is because my happiness seems so impossible to me! I yearn to make a reality of it because I fear so much that it may vanish like a dream!”
“All you need do is to merit this pretended happiness.”
“I am at your orders, Madame.”
“Are you quite certain?” Milady asked with a lingering doubt.
“Name the scoundrel who has brought tears to your beautiful eyes and I—”
“Who told you I had been weeping?”
“It seemed to me, Madame—”
“Such women as I never weep.”
“So much the better!” said D’Artagnan. “But come, tell me the villain’s name.”
“Remember, his name is my secret.”
“Yet I must know it, Madame.”
“Ay, you must know it. See what confidence I have in you.”
“You overwhelm me with joy. What is his name?”
“You know him.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes.”
“Surely it is not one of my friends?” D’Artagnan asked, affecting hesitation in order to confirm her belief in his ignorance.
“Would you hesitate if it were?” Milady demanded, with a threatening gleam in her eye.
“Not if it were my own brother!” D’Artagnan vowed, as though carried away by enthusiasm. Our Gascon assuredly promised this without risk, for he knew exactly what