MILADY'S SECRET
D'Artagnan left the hotel instead of going up at once to Kitty's chamber1, as she endeavored to persuade him to do--and that for two reasons: the first, because by this means he should escape reproaches, recriminations, and prayers; the second, because be was not sorry to have an opportunity of reading his own thoughts and endeavoring, if possible, to fathom2 those of this woman.
What was most clear in the matter was that D'Artagnan loved Milady like a madman, and that she did not love him at all. In an instant D'Artagnan perceived that the best way in which he could act would be to go home and write Milady a long letter, in which he would confess to her that he and De Wardes were, up to the present moment absolutely the same, and that consequently he could not undertake, without committing suicide, to kill the Comte de Wardes. But be also was spurred on by a ferocious3 desire of vengeance4. He wished to subdue5 this woman in his own name; and as this vengeance appeared to him to have a certain sweetness in it, he could not make up his mind to renounce6 it.
He walked six or seven times round the Place Royale, turning at every ten steps to look at the light in Milady's apartment, which was to be seen through the blinds. It was evident that this time the young woman was not in such haste to retire to her apartment as she had been the first.
At length the light disappeared. With this light was extinguished the last irresolution7 in the heart of D'Artagnan. He recalled to his mind the details of the first night, and with a beating heart and a brain on fire he re-entered the hotel and flew toward Kitty's chamber.
The poor girl, pale as death and trembling in all her limbs, wished to delay her lover; but Milady, with her ear on the watch, had heard the noise D'Artagnan had made, and opening the door, said, "Come in."
All this was of such incredible immodesty, of such monstrous8 effrontery9, that D'Artagnan could scarcely believe what he saw or what he heard. He imagined himself to be drawn10 into one of those fantastic intrigues11 one meets in dreams. He, however, darted12 not the less quickly toward Milady, yielding to that magnetic attraction which the loadstone exercises over iron.
As the door closed after them Kitty rushed toward it. Jealousy13, fury, offended pride, all the passions in short that dispute the heart of an outraged14 woman in love, urged her to make a revelation; but she reflected that she would be totally lost if she confessed having assisted in such a machination, and above all, that D'Artagnan would also be lost to her forever. This last thought of love counseled her to make this last sacrifice.
D'Artagnan, on his part, had gained the summit of all his wishes. It was no longer a rival who was beloved; it was himself who was apparently15 beloved. A secret voice whispered to him, at the bottom of his heart, that he was but an instrument of vengeance, that he was only caressed16 till he had given death; but pride, but self-love, but madness silenced this voice and stifled17 its murmurs18. And then our Gascon, with that large quantity of conceit19 which we know he possessed20, compared himself with De Wardes, and asked himself why, after all, he should not be beloved for himself?
He was absorbed entirely21 by the sensations of the moment. Milady was no longer for him that woman of fatal intentions who had for a moment terrified him; she was an ardent22, passionate23 mistress, abandoning herself to love which she also seemed to feel. Two hours thus glided25 away. When the transports of the two lovers were calmer, Milady, who had not the same motives26 for forgetfulness that D'Artagnan had, was the first to return to reality, and asked the young man if the means which were on the morrow to bring on the encounter between him and De Wardes were already arranged in his mind.
But D'Artagnan, whose ideas had taken quite another course, forgot himself like a fool, and answered gallantly27 that it was too late to think about duels28 and sword thrusts.
This coldness toward the only interests that occupied her mind terrified Milady, whose questions became more pressing.
Then D'Artagnan, who had never seriously thought of this impossible duel29, endeavored to turn the conversation; but he could not succeed. Milady kept him within the limits she had traced beforehand with her irresistible30 spirit and her iron will.
D'Artagnan fancied himself very cunning when advising Milady to renounce, by pardoning De Wardes, the furious projects she had formed.
But at the first word the young woman started, and exclaimed in a sharp, bantering31 tone. which sounded strangely in the darkness, "Are you afraid, dear Monsieur D'Artagnan?"
"You cannot think so, dear love!" replied D'Artagnan; "but now, suppose this poor Comte de Wardes were less guilty than you think him?"
"At all events," said Milady, seriously, "he has deceived me, and from the moment he deceived me, he merited death."
"He shall die, then, since you condemn32 him!" said D'Artagnan, in so firm a tone that it appeared to Milady an undoubted proof of devotion. This reassured33 her.
We cannot say how long the night seemed to Milady, but D'Artagnan believed it to be hardly two hours before the daylight peeped through the window blinds, and invaded the chamber with its paleness. Seeing D'Artagnan about to leave her, Milady recalled his promise to avenge34 her on the Comte de Wardes.
"I am quite ready," said D'Artagnan; "but in the first place I should like to be certain of one thing."
"And what is that?" asked Milady.
"That is, whether you really love me?"
"I have given you proof of that, it seems to me."
"And I am yours, body and soul!"
"Thanks, my brave lover; but as you are satisfied of my love, you must, in your turn, satisfy me of yours. Is it not so?"
"Certainly; but if you love me as much as you say," replied D'Artagnan, "do you not entertain a little fear on my account?"
"What have I to fear?"
"Why, that I may be dangerously wounded--killed even."
"Impossible!" cried Milady, "you are such a valiant35 man, and such an expert swordsman."
"You would not, then, prefer a method," resumed D'Artagnan, "which would equally avenge you while rendering36 the combat useless?"
Milady looked at her lover in silence. The pale light of the first rays of day gave to her clear eyes a strangely frightful37 expression.
"Really," said she, "I believe you now begin to hesitate."
"No, I do not hesitate; but I really pity this poor Comte de Wardes, since you have ceased to love him. I think that a man must be so severely38 punished by the loss of your love that he stands in need of no other chastisement39."
"Who told you that I loved him?" asked Milady, sharply.
"At least, I am now at liberty to believe, without too much fatuity40, that you love another," said the young man, in a caressing41 tone, "and I repeat that I am really interested for the count."
"You?" asked Milady.
"Yes, I."
"And why YOU?"
"Because I alone know--"
"What?"
"That he is far from being, or rather having been, so guilty toward you as he appears."
"Indeed!" said Milady, in an anxious tone; "explain yourself, for I really cannot tell what you mean."
And she looked at D'Artagnan, who embraced her tenderly, with eyes which seemed to burn themselves away.
"Yes; I am a man of honor," said D'Artagnan, determined42 to come to an end, "and since your love is mine, and I am satisfied I possess it--for I do possess it, do I not?"
"Entirely; go on."
"Well, I feel as if transformed--a confession43 weighs on my mind."
"A confession!"
"If I had the least doubt of your love I would not make it, but you love me, my beautiful mistress, do you not?"
"Without doubt."
"Then if through excess of love I have rendered myself culpable44 toward you, you will pardon me?"
"Perhaps."
D'Artagnan tried with his sweetest smile to touch his lips to Milady's, but she evaded45 him.
"This confession," said she, growing paler, "what is this confession?"
"You gave De Wardes a meeting on Thursday last in this very room, did you not?"
"No, no! It is not true," said Milady, in a tone of voice so firm, and with a countenance46 so unchanged, that if D'Artagnan had not been in such perfect possession of the fact, he would have doubted.
"Do not lie, my angel," said D'Artagnan, smiling; "that would be useless."
"What do you mean? Speak! you kill me."
"Be satisfied; you are not guilty toward me, and I have already pardoned you."
"What next? what next?"
"De Wardes cannot boast of anything."
"How is that? You told me yourself that that ring--"
"That ring I have! The Comte de Wardes of Thursday and the D'Artagnan of today are the same person."
The imprudent young man expected a surprise, mixed with shame--a slight storm which would resolve itself into tears; but he was strangely deceived, and his error was not of long duration.
Pale and trembling, Milady repulsed47 D'Artagnan's attempted embrace by a violent blow on the chest, as she sprang out of bed.
It was almost broad daylight.
D'Artagnan detained her by her night dress of fine India linen48, to implore49 her pardon; but she, with a strong movement, tried to escape. Then the cambric was torn from her beautiful shoulders; and on one of those lovely shoulders, round and white, D'Artagnan recognized, with inexpressible astonishment50, the FLEUR-DE-LIS--that indelible mark which the hand of the infamous51 executioner had imprinted52.
"Great God!" cried D'Artagnan, loosing his hold of her dress, and remaining mute, motionless, and frozen.
But Milady felt herself denounced even by his terror. He had doubtless seen all. The young man now knew her secret, her terrible secret--the secret she concealed53 even from her maid with such care, the secret of which all the world was ignorant, except himself.
She turned upon him, no longer like a furious woman, but like a wounded panther.
"Ah, wretch54!" cried she, "you have basely betrayed me, and still more, you have my secret! You shall die."
And she flew to a little inlaid casket which stood upon the dressing55 table, opened it with a feverish56 and trembling band, drew from it a small poniard, with a golden haft and a sharp thin blade, and then threw herself with a bound upon D'Artagnan.
Although the young man was brave, as we know, he was terrified at that wild countenance, those terribly dilated57 pupils, those pale cheeks, and those bleeding lips. He recoiled58 to the other side of the room as he would have done from a serpent which was crawling toward him, and his sword coming in contact with his nervous hand, he drew it almost unconsciously from the scabbard. But without taking any heed59 of the sword, Milady endeavored to get near enough to him to stab him, and did not stop till she felt the sharp point at her throat.
She then tried to seize the sword with her hands; but D'Artagnan kept it free from her grasp, and presenting the point, sometimes at her eyes, sometimes at her breast, compelled her to glide24 behind the bedstead, while he aimed at making his retreat by the door which led to Kitty's apartment.
Milady during this time continued to strike at him with horrible fury, screaming in a formidable way.
As all this, however, bore some resemblance to a duel, D'Artagnan began to recover himself little by little.
"Well, beautiful lady, very well," said be; "but, PARDIEU, if you don't calm yourself, I will design a second FLEUR-DE-LIS upon one of those pretty checks!"
"Scoundrel, infamous scoundrel!" howled Milady.
But D'Artagnan, still keeping on the defensive60, drew near to Kitty's door. At the noise they made, she in overturning the furniture in her efforts to get at him, he in screening himself behind the furniture to keep out of her reach, Kitty opened the door. D'Artagnan, who had unceasingly maneuvered61 to gain this point, was not at more than three paces from it. With one spring he flew from the chamber of Milady into that of the maid, and quick as lightning, he slammed to the door, and placed all his weight against it, while Kitty pushed the bolts.
Then Milady attempted to tear down the doorcase, with a strength apparently above that of a woman; but finding she could not accomplish this, she in her fury stabbed at the door with her poniard, the point of which repeatedly glittered through the wood. Every blow was accompanied with terrible imprecations.
"Quick, Kitty, quick!" said D'Artagnan, in a low voice, as soon as the bolts were fast, "let me get out of the hotel; for if we leave her time to turn round, she will have me killed by the servants."
"But you can't go out so," said Kitty; "you are naked."
"That's true," said D'Artagnan, then first thinking of the costume he found himself in, "that's true. But dress me as well as you are able, only make haste; think, my dear girl, it's life and death!"
Kitty was but too well aware of that. In a turn of the hand she muffled62 him up in a flowered robe, a large hood63, and a cloak. She gave him some slippers64, in which he placed his naked feet, and then conducted him down the stairs. It was time. Milady had already rung her bell, and roused the whole hotel. The porter was drawing the cord at the moment Milady cried from her window, "Don't open!"
The young man fled while she was still threatening him with an impotent gesture. The moment she lost sight of him, Milady tumbled fainting into her chamber.
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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subdue
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| vt.制服，使顺从，征服；抑制，克制 | |
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renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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irresolution
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| n.不决断，优柔寡断，犹豫不定 | |
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monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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effrontery
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| n.厚颜无耻 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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outraged
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| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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caressed
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| 爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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murmurs
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| n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 )；低语声；怨言；嘀咕 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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glide
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| n./v.溜，滑行；(时间)消逝 | |
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glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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gallantly
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| adv. 漂亮地，勇敢地，献殷勤地 | |
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duels
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| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
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duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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bantering
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| adj.嘲弄的v.开玩笑，说笑，逗乐( banter的现在分词 )；（善意地）取笑，逗弄 | |
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32
condemn
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| vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑 | |
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reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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chastisement
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| n.惩罚 | |
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fatuity
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| n.愚蠢，愚昧 | |
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caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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culpable
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| adj.有罪的，该受谴责的 | |
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evaded
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| 逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 )； 避开； 回避； 想不出 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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repulsed
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| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
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linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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imprinted
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| v.盖印（imprint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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maneuvered
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| v.移动，用策略( maneuver的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵 | |
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muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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