The Three Musketeers (The Modern Library) - Alexandre Dumas [225]
XLV
HUSBAND AND WIFE
As Athos had foreseen the Cardinal soon came down. Opening the door, he found Porthos dicing furiously with Aramis. He glanced swiftly around the room and found one of the company missing.
“Where is Monsieur Athos?” he inquired.
Porthos explained that Athos, gathering from the landlord’s conversation that the road was not entirely safe, had gone out to reconnoitre.
“And what have you been doing, Monsieur Porthos?”
“I have just won five pistoles from Aramis, Monseigneur.”
“Well, will you return with me now?”
“We are at your Eminence’s orders.”
“To the horse then, gentlemen, for it is getting late.”
The Cardinal’s esquire stood at the door holding His Eminence’s horse by the bridle. A few steps away a group of two men and three horses stood waiting in the shadows; they were to escort Milady to the Fort de La Pointe and see her safely aboard ship. The esquire confirmed what the musketeers had told the Cardinal about Athos; His Eminence nodded in approval and retraced his route with the same precautions he had employed in coming.
As for Athos, he had ridden off at an even clip until he was out of sight; then, turning to the right, he had described a circle and returned within twenty paces of a tall hedge whence he heard the Cardinal and his little troop make off. He actually caught a glimpse of the gold-laced hats of his companions and of the Cardinal’s gold-fringed coat. When the horsemen had rounded the corner of the road Athos galloped back to the inn.
The landlord recognized him.
“My Commanding Officer forgot to give the lady an important piece of news,” he explained. “I mean the lady on the first floor. He sent me back to—”
“Walk right up, Monsieur, the lady is still here.”
Availing himself of the permission, Athos climbed the stairs blithely and from the landing, through the open door, saw Milady putting on her hat. Crossing the threshold, he closed the door behind him and bolted it; at the sound, Milady turned back to face him. He stood before her, wrapped in his cloak, his hat pulled over his eyes. Seeing this figure silent and motionless as a statue, Milady was frightened.
“Who are you,” she demanded, “and what do you want?”
“Yes, yes!” said Athos and slipping out of his cloak and removing his hat as he strode toward Milady, “You are certainly the woman I am looking for. Do you recognize me, Madame?”
Milady took one step forward, then drew back as though a snake lay in her path.
“So far so good!” Athos went on. “I see you know who I am.”
“The Comte de La Fère!” Milady murmured, turning pale and recoiling step by step to the wall.
“Yes, Milady, the Comte de La Fère in person. He has come expressly from the other world in order to enjoy the pleasure of seeing you again. Let us sit down and talk, as the Cardinal says.”
Milady, a prey to indescribable terror, sat down without uttering a word.
“Truly you are a demon sent to plague this earth!” Athos said calmly. “Your power is great I know; but you know that with God’s help, men have often vanquished the most terrible of demons. Once before, Madame, you crossed my path and I thought I had felled you; but either I was mistaken or Hell has resuscitated you.”
Milady bowed her head, groaning.
“Ay, Hell has resuscitated you, Hell has made you rich, Hell has given you another name, Hell has almost lent you another countenance. But it has effaced neither the stains upon your soul nor the brand upon your body.”
Milady sprang up as though loosed by a powerful spring. Her eyes flashed lightning. Athos did not turn a hair.
“You thought me dead, did you not, just as I thought you dead? The name of Athos concealed the Comte de La Fère just as that of Lady Clark concealed that of Anne de Bueil. It was under that name that your honorable brother married us, was it not? Our position is truly a strange one!” Athos laughed wryly. “We have gone on living only because