The D'Artagnan Romances - Complete Series (All 6 Books in One Edition). Alexandre Dumas

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The D'Artagnan Romances - Complete Series (All 6 Books in One Edition) - Alexandre Dumas

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letter shall be given to himself.”

      “Generous girl!” cried Anne of Austria.

      Mme. Bonacieux kissed the hands of the queen, concealed the paper in the bosom of her dress, and disappeared with the lightness of a bird.

      Ten minutes afterward she was at home. As she told the queen, she had not seen her husband since his liberation; she was ignorant of the change that had taken place in him with respect to the cardinal—a change which had since been strengthened by two or three visits from the Comte de Rochefort, who had become the best friend of Bonacieux, and had persuaded him, without much trouble, was putting his house in order, the furniture of which he had found mostly broken and his closets nearly empty—justice not being one of the three things which King Solomon names as leaving no traces of their passage. As to the servant, she had run away at the moment of her master’s arrest. Terror had had such an effect upon the poor girl that she had never ceased walking from Paris till she reached Burgundy, her native place.

      The worthy mercer had, immediately upon reentering his house, informed his wife of his happy return, and his wife had replied by congratulating him, and telling him that the first moment she could steal from her duties should be devoted to paying him a visit.

      This first moment had been delayed five days, which, under any other circumstances, might have appeared rather long to M. Bonacieux; but he had, in the visit he had made to the cardinal and in the visits Rochefort had made him, ample subjects for reflection, and as everybody knows, nothing makes time pass more quickly than reflection.

      This was the more so because Bonacieux’s reflections were all rose-colored. Rochefort called him his friend, his dear Bonacieux, and never ceased telling him that the cardinal had a great respect for him. The mercer fancied himself already on the high road to honors and fortune.

      On her side Mme. Bonacieux had also reflected; but, it must be admitted, upon something widely different from ambition. In spite of herself her thoughts constantly reverted to that handsome young man who was so brave and appeared to be so much in love. Married at eighteen to M. Bonacieux, having always lived among her husband’s friends—people little capable of inspiring any sentiment whatever in a young woman whose heart was above her position—Mme. Bonacieux had remained insensible to vulgar seductions; but at this period the title of gentleman had great influence with the citizen class, and d’Artagnan was a gentleman. Besides, he wore the uniform of the Guards, which next to that of the Musketeers was most admired by the ladies. He was, we repeat, handsome, young, and bold; he spoke of love like a man who did love and was anxious to be loved in return. There was certainly enough in all this to turn a head only twenty-three years old, and Mme. Bonacieux had just attained that happy period of life.

      The couple, then, although they had not seen each other for eight days, and during that time serious events had taken place in which both were concerned, accosted each other with a degree of preoccupation. Nevertheless, Bonacieux manifested real joy, and advanced toward his wife with open arms. Madame Bonacieux presented her cheek to him.

      “Let us talk a little,” said she.

      “How!” said Bonacieux, astonished.

      “Yes, I have something of the highest importance to tell you.”

      “True,” said he, “and I have some questions sufficiently serious to put to you. Describe to me your abduction, I pray you.”

      “Oh, that’s of no consequence just now,” said Mme. Bonacieux.

      “And what does it concern, then—my captivity?”

      “I heard of it the day it happened; but as you were not guilty of any crime, as you were not guilty of any intrigue, as you, in short, knew nothing that could compromise yourself or anybody else, I attached no more importance to that event than it merited.”

      “You speak very much at your ease, madame,” said Bonacieux, hurt at the little interest his wife showed in him. “Do you know that I was plunged during a day and night in a dungeon of the Bastille?”

      “Oh, a day and night soon pass away. Let us return to the object that brings me here.”

      “What, that which brings you home to me? Is it not the desire of seeing a husband again from whom you have been separated for a week?” asked the mercer, piqued to the quick.

      “Yes, that first, and other things afterward.”

      “Speak.”

      “It is a thing of the highest interest, and upon which our future fortune perhaps depends.”

      “The complexion of our fortune has changed very much since I saw you, Madam Bonacieux, and I should not be astonished if in the course of a few months it were to excite the envy of many folks.”

      “Yes, particularly if you follow the instructions I am about to give you.”

      “Me?”

      “Yes, you. There is good and holy action to be performed, monsieur, and much money to be gained at the same time.”

      Mme. Bonacieux knew that in talking of money to her husband, she took him on his weak side. But a man, were he even a mercer, when he had talked for ten minutes with Cardinal Richelieu, is no longer the same man.

      “Much money to be gained?” said Bonacieux, protruding his lip.

      “Yes, much.”

      “About how much?”

      “A thousand pistoles, perhaps.”

      “What you demand of me is serious, then?”

      “It is indeed.”

      “What must be done?”

      “You must go away immediately. I will give you a paper which you must not part with on any account, and which you will deliver into the proper hands.”

      “And whither am I to go?”

      “To London.”

      “I go to London? Go to! You jest! I have no business in London.”

      “But others wish that you should go there.”

      “But who are those others? I warn you that I will never again work in the dark, and that I will know not only to what I expose myself, but for whom I expose myself.”

      “An illustrious person sends you; an illustrious person awaits you. The recompense will exceed your expectations; that is all I promise you.”

      “More intrigues! Nothing but intrigues! Thank you, madame, I am aware of them now; Monsieur Cardinal has enlightened me on that head.”

      “The cardinal?” cried Mme. Bonacieux. “Have you seen the cardinal?”

      “He sent for me,” answered the mercer, proudly.

      “And you responded to his bidding, you imprudent man?”

      “Well, I can’t say I had much

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