The Three Musketeers (Translated by Richard Pevear) - Alexandre Dumas [297]
“Very good!”
“Don’t forget to speak harshly of me when you talk to the abbess about me.”
“What for?”
“I am a victim of the cardinal. I must inspire confidence in this poor little Mme Bonacieux.”
“That’s so. Now, will you make me a report of all that has happened?”
“But I’ve told you all the events, you have a good memory, repeat the things as I told them to you. Papers get lost.”
“You’re right. Only let me know where to find you again, so that I don’t go running around the neighborhood in vain.”
“That’s so. Wait a minute.”
“Would you like a map?”
“Oh, I know this country perfectly!”
“You do? When did you ever come here?”
“I was raised here.”
“Really?”
“It’s good for something, you see, to have been raised somewhere.”
“So you’ll wait for me…”
“Let me think for a moment. Ah, that’s it, at Armentières.”
“What’s Armentières?”
“A little town on the Lys. I have only to cross the river, and I’ll be in a foreign country.”
“Perfect! But it’s understood that you’ll only cross the river in case of danger.”
“It’s understood.”
“And in that case how will I know where you are?”
“You don’t need your lackey?”
“No.”
“Is he reliable?”
“Completely.”
“Give him to me. No one knows him. He’ll stay behind when I leave and lead you to where I am.”
“And you say you’ll wait for me in Argentières?”
“In Armentières,” replied Milady.
“Write the name down on a slip of paper, lest I forget it. The name of a town isn’t compromising, is it?”
“Ah, who knows? Never mind,” said Milady, writing the name on a half sheet of paper, “I’ll compromise myself.”
“Good!” said Rochefort, taking the paper from Milady, folding it, and sticking it into the lining of his hat. “Anyhow, don’t worry, I’m going to do as children do and repeat the name all along the way, in case I lose the paper. Is that all, now?”
“I think so.”
“Let’s check carefully: Buckingham dead or gravely wounded; your talk with the cardinal overheard by the four musketeers; Lord de Winter warned of your arrival in Portsmouth; d’Artagnan and Athos to the Bastille; Aramis the lover of Mme de Chevreuse; Porthos a fop; Mme Bonacieux found again; send you the post chaise as soon as possible; put my lackey at your disposal; make you a victim of the cardinal, so that the abbess has no suspicions; Armentières on the banks of the Lys. Is that it?”
“Truly, my dear chevalier, you are a miracle of memory. Incidentally, add one thing…”
“Which?”
“I saw a very pretty wood that must border on the convent garden. Say that I am permitted to stroll in that wood. Who knows, I may need to leave by a back door.”
“You think of everything.”
“And you are forgetting one thing…”
“What’s that?”
“To ask me if I need money.”
“That’s right, how much do you want?”
“All the gold you have.”
“I have about five hundred pistoles.”
“I have as much again. With a thousand pistoles, one can face anything: empty your pockets.”
“There you are, Countess.”
“Good, my dear Count! And you’re leaving?…”
“In an hour. Time enough for a bite to eat while I send for a post-horse.”
“Perfect! Good-bye, Chevalier!”
“Good-bye, Countess!”
“Commend me to the cardinal,” said Milady.
“Commend me to Satan,” replied Rochefort.
Milady and Rochefort exchanged smiles and parted.
An hour later, Rochefort galloped off on his horse; five hours later, he passed through Arras.
Our readers already know how he was recognized by d’Artagnan, and how this recognition, arousing fears in the four musketeers, lent a new impetus to their journey.
LXIII
A DROP OF WATER
Rochefort had only just left when Mme Bonacieux came back in. She found Milady with a smiling face.
“Well,” said the young woman, “so what you were afraid of has happened; tonight or tomorrow the cardinal will send someone to take you?”
“Who told you that, my child?” asked Milady.
“I heard it from the mouth of the messenger himself.”
“Come and sit beside me,” said Milady.
“Here I am.”
“Wait till I