The Three Musketeers (The Modern Library) - Alexandre Dumas [278]
“Go on, Madame,” Felton urged. “You see how carefully I listen and how eager I am to learn what happened.”
“I was resolved to commit the crime as soon as possible; I had no doubt my seducer would return the following night. During the day I had nothing to fear.
“Accordingly, when the hour for breakfast came, I did not hesitate to eat and drink, but I was only going to pretend to eat supper. Thus I had to fortify myself with my morning nourishment against my evening fast. But I did hide a glass of water, part of my breakfast, because thirst had been my chief suffering during my forty-eight hours without food or drink. The day passed without any effect on me other than to strengthen me in the resolve I had taken. But I was careful lest my face betray the thoughts in my heart. I was positive I was being watched. At times I felt a smile on my lips but I quickly covered it with my hand. Ah, Felton, I dare not tell you what made me smile; you would be horrified—”
“Madame, tell me what happened next?”
“Evening came, the routine events took place. As before, my supper appeared under cover of the darkness, the lamp was lighted and I sat down at table. I ate only some fruit. I pretended to pour some water from the carafe but I drank only that which I had kept in my glass. I made the substitution skilfully enough to elude the suspicion of the spies, if spies there were.
“After supper I feigned the same signs of numbness as before; but this time, as if succumbing to fatigue or over-familiar with danger, I dragged myself to my bed, undressed and went to bed. I had no trouble in finding my knife under the pillow and all the while I pretended to be falling asleep I grasped its handle firmly. Two hours or so must have passed; nothing happened. Who could have imagined the night before that this could be? I began to fear he would not come!
“But at length I saw the lamp slowly rise and disappear into the depths of the ceiling; my room was plunged in darkness but I strained my eyes, hoping to distinguish the form of my persecutor. Some ten minutes elapsed. I could hear no sound above the beating of my heart. I implored Heaven that the villain might come. Evidently my prayer was being answered, for I heard the door open and close and, though the carpet was very thick, I distinguished a footstep which made the floor creak and across the obscurity I discerned a shadow advancing toward my bed.”
“Go on, My Lady, make haste,” Felton begged her. “Can’t you see that every word you say burns me like molten lead?”
“I gathered all my strength, Felton, and I remembered that the hour for vengence—or rather for justice—had struck at last. I felt I was another Judith, I poised myself, knife in hand, and when I saw him near me, his arms outstretched to grasp his victim, I uttered a supreme cry of agony and despair as I struck him full in the chest. But oh! the coward had foreseen every eventuality. His chest was covered with a coat of mail; the knife slanted off.”
Her seducer had then seized her arm and wrenched the weapon from her grasp.
“So you have designs on my life, my lovely Puritan?” he mocked. “Lud! this is more than aversion, it is plain ingratitude! Come, come, calm yourself, my pretty pet. I thought you had grown more tender but I see I was wrong. Heigh-ho, I am not the sort of despot who detains a woman by force. You do not love me! With my usual fatuousness, I doubted it; but now I am convinced. Tomorrow you shall go free.”
Desiring nothing from him save death at his hands:
“Have a care,” she told him, “my liberty spells your dishonor.”
“Explain, fair Sibyl.”
“No sooner do I leave this place than I shall tell everything: I shall make known the violence which you employed against me, I shall recount my captivity and I shall denounce this palace of abominations. You are highly exalted, My