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The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers

Titel: The Three Musketeers Kostenlos Bücher Online Lesen
Autoren: Alexandre Dumas
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Milady added, "No, no! Keep that ring for love of me. Besides, in accepting it," she added, in a voice full of emotion, "you render me a much greater service than you imagine."
    "This woman is full of mysteries," murmured d'Artagnan to himself. At that instant he felt himself ready to reveal all. He even opened his mouth to tell Milady who he was, and with what a revengeful purpose he had come; but she added, "Poor angel, whom that monster of a Gascon barely failed to kill."
    The monster was himself.
    "Oh," continued Milady, "do your wounds still make you suffer?"
    "Yes, much," said d'Artagnan, who did not well know how to answer.
    "Be tranquil," murmured Milady; "I will avenge you—and cruelly!"
    "PESTE!" said d'Artagnan to himself, "the moment for confidences has not yet come."
    It took some time for d'Artagnan to resume this little dialogue; but then all the ideas of vengeance which he had brought with him had completely vanished. This woman exercised over him an unaccountable power; he hated and adored her at the same time. He would not have believed that two sentiments so opposite could dwell in the same heart, and by their union constitute a passion so strange, and as it were, diabolical.
    Presently it sounded one o'clock. It was necessary to separate. D'Artagnan at the moment of quitting Milady felt only the liveliest regret at the parting; and as they addressed each other in a reciprocally passionate adieu, another interview was arranged for the following week.
    Poor Kitty hoped to speak a few words to d'Artagnan when he passed through her chamber; but Milady herself reconducted him through the darkness, and only quit him at the staircase.
    The next morning d'Artagnan ran to find Athos. He was engaged in an adventure so singular that he wished for counsel. He therefore told him all.
    "Your Milady," said he, "appears to be an infamous creature, but not the less you have done wrong to deceive her. In one fashion or another you have a terrible enemy on your hands."
    While thus speaking Athos regarded with attention the sapphire set with diamonds which had taken, on d'Artagnan's finger, the place of the queen's ring, carefully kept in a casket.
    "You notice my ring?" said the Gascon, proud to display so rich a gift in the eyes of his friends.
    "Yes," said Athos, "it reminds me of a family jewel."
    "It is beautiful, is it not?" said d'Artagnan.
    "Yes," said Athos, "magnificent. I did not think two sapphires of such a fine water existed. Have you traded it for your diamond?"
    "No. It is a gift from my beautiful Englishwoman, or rather Frenchwoman—for I am convinced she was born in France, though I have not questioned her."
    "That ring comes from Milady?" cried Athos, with a voice in which it was easy to detect strong emotion.
    "Her very self; she gave it me last night. Here it is," replied d'Artagnan, taking it from his finger.
    Athos examined it and became very pale. He tried it on his left hand; it fit his finger as if made for it.
    A shade of anger and vengeance passed across the usually calm brow of this gentleman.
    "It is impossible it can be she," said be. "How could this ring come into the hands of Milady Clarik? And yet it is difficult to suppose such a resemblance should exist between two jewels."
    "Do you know this ring?" said d'Artagnan.
    "I thought I did," replied Athos; "but no doubt I was mistaken." And he returned d'Artagnan the ring without, however, ceasing to look at it.
    "Pray, d'Artagnan," said Athos, after a minute, "either take off that ring or turn the mounting inside; it recalls such cruel recollections that I shall have no head to converse with you. Don't ask me for counsel; don't tell me you are perplexed what to do. But stop! let me look at that sapphire again; the one I mentioned to you had one of its faces scratched by accident."
    D'Artagnan took off the ring, giving it again to Athos.
    Athos started. "Look," said he, "is it not strange?" and he pointed out to d'Artagnan the scratch he had remembered.
    "But from whom did this ring come to you, Athos?"
    "From my mother, who inherited it from her mother. As I told you, it is an old family jewel."
    "And you—sold it?" asked d'Artagnan, hesitatingly.
    "No," replied Athos, with a singular smile. "I gave it away in a night of love, as it has been given to you."
    D'Artagnan became pensive in his turn; it appeared as if there were abysses in Milady's soul whose depths were dark and unknown. He took back the ring, but put it in his pocket

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