Join Host Bree Carlile as she reads the sixty-third chapter of The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.

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Welcome to Byte At A Time Books, where we read you your favorite classics one bite at a time.

My name is Brie Carlyle and I love to read and wanted to share my passion with listeners like you.

All of the links for our show are in the show notes.

We will be continuing the Three Musketeers by Alexandra Dumas Chapter 63 the drop of Water Rock afford had scarcely departed when Madame Bonus reentered.

She found my lady with a smiling countenance.

Well, said the young woman, what you dreaded has happened this evening or tomorrow, the Cardinal will send someone to take you away.

Who told you that, my dear?

Asked My Lady.

I heard it from the mouth of the messenger himself.

Come and sit down close to me, said My Lady.

Here I am.

Wait till I assure myself that nobody hears us.

Why all these precautions?

You shall know.

My lady arose, went to the door, opened it, looked in the corridor, and then returned and seated herself close to Madame Bonuseu.

Then said, she has well played his part, who has just now presented himself to the Abbess as a messenger from the Cardinal.

It was then a part he was playing.

Yes, my child.

That man then, was not that man, said My Lady, lowering her voice.

Is my brother.

Your brother?

Cried Madame Bonus.

No one must know the secret, my dear, but yourself.

If you reveal it to anyone in the world, I shall be lost.

And perhaps yourself likewise.

Oh, my God.

Listen.

This is what has happened.

My brother, who was coming to my assistance to take me away by force, if it were necessary, met with the emissary of the Cardinal who was coming in search of me.

He followed him at a solitary and retired part of the road.

He drew his sword and required the messenger to deliver up to him the papers of which he was the bearer.

The messenger resisted.

My brother killed him.

Oh, said Madame Bonasu, shuddering.

Remember, that was the only means.

Then my brother, determined to substitute cunning for force, he took the papers and presented himself here as the emissary of the Cardinal.

And in an hour or two, a carriage will come to take me away by the orders of his eminence.

I understand it is your brother who sends this carriage.

Exactly.

But that is not all that letter you have received.

And what you believe to be from Madame de Chevrose.

Well, it is a forgery.

How can that be?

Yes, a forgery.

It is a snare to prevent you making any resistance when they come to fetch you.

But it is D'Artagnan that will come.

Do not deceive yourself.

D'artagnan and his friends are detained at the siege of La Rochelle.

How do you know that?

My brother met some emissaries of the Cardinal in the uniform of Musketeers.

You would have been summoned to the gate.

You would have believed yourself about to meet friends, you would have been abducted and conducted back to Paris.

Oh, my God, my senses fail me amid such a chaos of iniquities.

I feel if this continues, said Madame Bonusieu, raising her hands to her forehead, I shall go mad.

Stop what I hear.

A horse's steps.

It is my brother setting off again.

I should like to offer him a last salute.

Come, my lady opened the window and made a sign to Madame Bonuseu to join her.

The young woman complied.

Rakafort passed at a gallop.

Adieu, brother, cried my lady.

The Chevrolet erased his head, saw the two young women, and without stopping waved his hand in a friendly way.

To my lady, the good George said she, closing the window with an expression of countenance, full of affection and melancholy, and she resumed her seat as if plunged in reflections.

Entirely personal.

Dear lady, said Madame Bonus, you pardon me for interrupting you, but what do you advise me to do?

Good heaven, you have more experience than I have.

Speak.

I will listen.

In the first place, said my lady, it is possible I may be deceived and that D'Artagnan and his friends may really come to your assistance.

Oh, that would be too much, cried Madame Bonus.

So much happiness is not in store for me.

Then you comprehend it would be only a question of time, a sort of race which should arrive first.

If your friends are the more speedy you are to be saved.

If the satellites of the Cardinal, you are lost.

Oh, yes, yes.

Lost beyond redemption.

What then?

To do what to do?

That would be a very simple means, very natural.

Tell me what to wait concealed in the neighborhood and assure yourself, who are the men who come to ask for you?

But where can I wait?

Oh, there is no difficulty in that.

I shall stop and conceal myself a few leaks hence until my brother can rejoin me.

While I take you with me, we conceal ourselves and wait together.

But I shall not be allowed to go.

I am almost a prisoner, as they believe that I go in consequence of an order from the Cardinal.

No one will believe you anxious to follow me.

Well, well, the carriage is at the door.

You bid me Ado you Mount the step to embrace me.

The last time my brother's servant who comes to fetch me is told how to proceed.

He makes the sign to the postilion and we set off at a gallop.

But D'Artagnan.

D'artagnan.

If he comes, shall we not know it?

How?

Nothing easier.

We will send my brother's servant back to Beth Yoon, whom, as I told you, we can trust.

He shall assume a disguise and place himself in front of the convent.

If the emissaries of the Cardinal arrive, he will take no notice.

If it is Monsieur D'Artagnan and his friends, he will bring them to us.

He knows them.

Then doubtless has he not seen Monsieur D'Artagnan at my house.

Oh, yes, yes, you are right.

Thus all may go well.

All may be for the best, but we do not go far from this place.

Seven or eight leagues at the most.

We will keep on the frontiers, for instance.

And at the first alarm, we can leave France.

And what can we do there?

Wait.

But if they come, my brother's carriage will be here first.

If I should happen to be any distance from you when the carriage comes for you at dinner or supper, for instance, do one thing.

What is that?

Tell your good superior that in order that we may be as much together as possible, you ask her permission to share my repast.

Will she permit it?

What inconvenience can it be?

How delightful.

In this way we shall not be separated for an instant.

We'll go down to her then, to make your request.

I feel my head a little confused.

I will take a turn in the garden.

Go.

And where shall I find you?

Here in an hour.

Here in an hour.

Oh, you are so kind.

And I am so grateful.

How can I avoid interrupting myself for one who is so beautiful and so amiable?

Are you not the beloved of one of my best friends?

Dear D'Artagnan.

Oh, how he will thank you.

I hope so.

Now that all is agreed, let us go down.

You are going into the garden?

Yes.

Go along this corridor, down a little staircase.

And you are in it.

Excellent.

Thank you.

As the two women parted, exchanging charming smiles, my lady had told the truth.

Her head was confused for her.

Illarranged plans clashed one another like chaos.

She required to be alone, that she might put her thoughts a little into order.

She saw vaguely the future.

But she stood in need of a little silence and quiet to give all her ideas as yet confused, a distinct form and a regular plan.

What was most pressing was to get Madame Bonusew away and convey her to a place of safety and there, if matters required, make her a hostage.

My lady began to have doubts of the issue of this terrible duel in which her enemies showed as much perseverance as she did animosity.

Besides, she felt, as we feel when a storm is coming on, that this issue was near and could not fail to be terrible.

The principal thing for her then was, as we have said, to keep Madame Bonus in her power.

Madame Bonus was the very life of D'Artagnan.

This was more than his life, the life of the woman he loved.

This was, in case of ill fortune, a means of temporarizing and obtaining good conditions.

Now this point was settled.

Madame Mona Sieu, without any suspicion, accompanied her once concealed with her at Armentieres.

It would be easy to make her believe that D'Artagnan had not come to Bethune in 15 days at most.

Rockafort would be back.

Besides, during that 15 days she would have time to think how she could best avenge herself on the four friends.

She would not be weary, thank God, for she should enjoy the sweetest pastime.

Such offense could accord a woman of her character, perfecting a beautiful vengeance.

Revolving all this in her mind, she cast her eyes around her and arranged the topography of the garden in her head.

My lady was like a good general who contemplates at the same time victory and defeat, and who is quite prepared, according to the chances of the battle, to March forward or to beat a retreat.

At the end of an hour she heard a soft voice calling her.

It was Madame Bonacius.

The good Abbas had naturally consented to her request, and as a commencement they were to SUP together.

On reaching the courtyard they heard the noise of a carriage which stopped at the gate.

My lady listened.

Do you hear anything?

Said she.

Yes, the rolling of a carriage.

It is the one my brother sends for us.

Oh my God.

Come, come, courage.

The Bell of the convent gate was sounded.

My lady was not mistaken.

Go to your Chamber, said she to Madame Bonus.

You have perhaps some jewels you would like to take.

I have his letter, said she.

We'll go and fetch them and come to my apartment.

We will s***** some supper.

We shall perhaps travel part of the night and must keep our strength up.

Great God, said Madame Banasu, placing her hand upon her bosom.

My heart beats, so I cannot walk.

Courage, courage.

Remember that in a quarter of an hour you will be safe and think that what you are about to do is for his sake.

Yes, everything for him.

You will restored my courage by a single word.

Go.

I will rejoin you.

My lady ran up to her apartment quickly.

She there found Rockefort flaky and gave him his instructions.

He was to wait at the gate.

If by chance the musketeer should appear.

The carriage was to set off as fast as possible, pass around the convent and go and wait for my lady at a little village which was situated at the other side of the wood.

In this case, my lady would cross the garden and gain the village on foot.

As we have already said, my lady was admirably acquainted with this part of France.

If the Musketeers did not appear things for it to go on as had been agreed.

Madame Bonus Yu was to get into the carriage as if to bid her Ado, and she was to take away Madame Bonusieu.

Madame Bonaciu came in and to remove all suspicion.

If she had any, my lady repeated to the lucky before her the latter part of her instructions.

My lady asked some questions about the carriage.

It was a chase drawn by three horses driven by a postlian.

Rock of White's Lackey would proceeded as a Courier.

My lady was wrong in fearing that Madame Banasiu would have any suspicion.

The poor young woman was too pure to suppose that any female could be guilty of such perfidy.

Besides, the name of the Comteste Winter, which she had heard, the Abyss Pronounce, was wholly unknown to her, and she was even ignorant that a woman who had had so great and so fatal a share in the misfortune of her life.

You see, said she, when the Lackey had gone out, everything is ready.

The abuse suspects nothing and believes that I am taken by order of the Cardinal.

This man goes to give his last orders.

Take the least thing.

Drink a finger of wine and let us be gone.

Yes, said Madame Bonuses mechanically.

Yes, let us be gone.

My lady made her assign to sit down opposite, poured her small glass of Spanish wine, and helped her to the wing of a chicken.

C, said she, if everything does not second us, here is night coming on.

By daybreak we shall have reached our retreat and nobody can guess where we are.

Come, courage, take something.

Madame Bonusieu ate a few mouthfuls mechanically and just touched the glass with her lips.

Come, come, said My Lady, lifting hers to her mouth.

Do as I do.

But at the moment the glass touched her lips, her hand remained suspended.

She heard something on the road which sounded like the rattling of a distant gallop.

Then it grew nearer, and it seemed to her almost at the same time that she heard the Naying of horses.

This noise acted upon her joy like the storm which Awakens the sleeper.

In the midst of a happy dream, she grew pale and ran to the window while Madame Bonaciu, rising all in a tremble, supported herself upon her chair to avoid falling.

Nothing was yet to be seen.

Only they heard the galloping draw nearer.

Oh my God, said Madame Bonsaw.

What is that noise?

That of either our friends or our enemies, said My Lady with her terrible coldness.

Stay where you are, I will tell you.

Let Him Bonus, you remain standing mute, motionless, and pale as a statue.

The noise became louder.

The horses could not be more than 150 paces distant.

If they were not yet to be seen, it was because the road made an elbow.

The noise became so distant that the horses might be counted by the rattle of their hooves.

My lady gazed with all the power of her attention.

It was just light enough for her to see who was coming all at once.

At the turning of the road she saw the glitter of laced hats and the waving of feathers.

She counted two, then five, then eight horsemen.

One of them preceded the rest by double the length of his horse.

My lady uttered a stifled groan in the first Horseman she recognized.

D'artagnan oh my God, my God, cried Madame Bonuseu.

What is it?

It is the uniform of the Cardinal's Guards.

Not an instant to be lost.

Fly, fly.

Yes, yes, let us fly, repeated Madame Bonuses, but without being able to make a step.

Glued as she was to the spot by terror, they heard the horsemen pass under the windows.

Come then, come then, cried my lady, trying to drag the young woman along by the arm.

Thanks to the garden, we yet can flee.

I have the key, but make haste.

In five minutes it will be too late.

Madame Bodice, you tried to walk made two steps and sank upon her knees.

My lady tried to raise and carry her, but could not do it.

At this moment they heard the rolling of the carriage, which at the approach of the Musketeers, set off at a gallop.

Then three or four shots were fired for the last time.

Will you come?

Cried my lady.

Oh my God, my God.

You see my strength fails me.

You see plainly I cannot.

Walk.

Flee alone.

Flee alone and leave you here.

No, no, never, cried my lady.

All at once she paused.

A livid flash darted from her eyes.

She ran to the table emptied into Madame Bonus he's glass, the contents of a ring, which she opened with singular quickness.

It was a grain of reddish color which dissolved immediately.

Then, taking the glass with a firm hand, she said, Drink.

This wine will give you strength.

Drink.

And she put the glass to the lips of the young woman, who drank mechanically.

This is not the way that I wish to avenge myself, said my lady, replacing the glass upon the table with an infernal smile.

But my faith, we do what we can.

And she rushed out of the room.

Madame Bonacia saw her go without being able to follow her.

She was like people who dream they are pursued and who in vain try to walk.

A few moments passed.

A great noise was heard at the gate.

Every instant.

Madame Bonus expected to see my lady, but she did not return several times with terror.

No doubt the cold sweat burst from her burning brow.

At length she heard the grating of the hinges of the opening gates.

The noise of boots and spurs resounded on the stairs.

There was a great murmur of voices which continued to draw near, amid which she seemed to hear her own name pronounced all at once.

She uttered a loud cry of joy and darted toward the door.

She had recognized the voice of D'Artagnan.

D'artagnan, cried she, is it you?

This way, this way.

Constance, Constance, replied the young man.

Where are you?

Where are you, my God?

At the same moment, the door of the cell yielded to a shock.

Rather than opened, several men rushed into the Chamber.

Adam Bonaciu had sunk into an armchair without the power of moving.

D'artagnan threw down a yetsmoking pistol, which he held in his hand and fell on his knees before his mistress.

Athos, replaced his and his belt.

Porthos and Aramis, who held their drawn swords in their hands, returned them to their scabbards.

O.

D'artagnan, my beloved D'Artagnan, you have come.

Then at last you have not deceived me.

It is indeed thee.

Yes, yes, Constance reunited.

Oh, it was in vain.

She told me you would not come.

I hoped in silence.

I was not willing to fly.

Oh, I have done well.

How happy I am at this word she.

Athos, who had seated himself, quietly started up.

She what?

She asked D'Artagnan, while my companion, she who out of friendship for me, wished to take me from my persecutors, she who mistaking you for the Cardinal's Guards, has just fled away.

Your companion, cried D'Artagnan, becoming more pale than the white veil of his mistress.

Of what companion are you speaking, dear Constance?

Of her, whose carriage was at the gate of a woman who calls herself your friend of a woman to whom you have told everything.

Her name.

Her name, cried D'Artagnan.

My God, can you not remember her name?

Yes, it was pronounced in my hearing once stop, but it is very strange.

Oh my God, my head Slims.

I cannot see.

Help, help, my friends.

Her hands are icy cold, cried D'Artagnan.

She is ill.

Great God, she is losing her senses.

While Porthos was calling for help with all the power of his strong voice, Aramis ran to the table to get a glass of water.

But he stopped at, seeing the horrible alteration that had taken place in the Countenance of Athos, who's, standing before the table, his hair rising from his head, his eyes fixed and stupor, was looking at one of the glasses and appeared a prey to the most horrible doubt.

Oh, said Athos.

Oh no, it is impossible.

God would not permit such a crime.

Water, water, cried D'Artagnan.

Water.

Oh, poor woman, poor woman, murmured Athos in a broken voice.

Madame Bonacio opened her eyes.

Under the kisses of D'Artagnan, she revives, cried the young man.

Oh my God, my God, I thank thee, Madam, said Athos.

Madam, in the name of heaven, whose empty glass is this?

Mine, Monsieur, said the young woman in a dying voice.

But who poured the wine for you?

That was in this glass?

She.

But who is she?

Oh, I remember, said Madame Bonus, the Contest de Winter.

The four friends uttered one and the same cry, but that of Athos dominated all the rest.

At that moment, the Countenance of Madame Bonaciu became livid.

A fearful agony pervaded her frame, and she sank, panting, into the arms of Porthos and Aramis.

D'artagnan seized the hands of Athos with an anguish difficult to be described.

And what do you believe?

His voice was stifled by sobs.

I believe everything, said Athos, biting his lips till the blood sprang to avoid sighing.

D'artagnan.

D'artagnan, cried Madame BonusYou, where art thou?

Do not leave me.

You see, I am dying.

D'artagnan released the hands of Athos, which he still held clasped in both of his own, and hastened to her.

Her beautiful face was distorted with agony.

Her glassy eyes had no longer their sight.

A convulsive shuddering shook her whole body.

The sweat rolled from her brow.

In the name of heaven, run, Call, Aramis, Porthos, call for help.

Useless, said Athos.

Useless.

For the poison which she pours, there is no antidote.

Yes, yes, help, murmured Madame Bonus.

You help.

Then, collecting all her strength, she took the head of the young man between her hands, looked at him for an instant, as if her whole soul passed into that look, and with a sobbing cry, pressed her lips to his.

Constance, Constance, cried D'Artagnan.

Asia escaped from the mouth of Madame Bonaciu, and dwelt for an instant on the lips of D'Artagnan.

That sigh was the soul, so chaste and so loving, which re ascended to heaven.

D'artagnan pressed nothing but a corpse in his arms.

The young man uttered a cry and fell by the sight of his mistress as pale and icy as herself.

Porthos swept Aramis, pointed toward heaven.

Athos made a sign of the cross.

At that moment a man appeared in the doorway, almost as pale as those in the Chamber.

He looked around him and saw Madame Bonaciu dead, and D'Artagnan in a swoon.

He appeared just at that moment of stupor which follows great catastrophes.

I was not deceived, said he.

Hears Monsieur D'Artagnan, and you are his friends, Messiahs.

Athos Porthos and Aramis, the persons whose names were thus pronounced looked at the stranger with astonishment.

It seemed all three that they knew him.

Gentlemen, resumed the newcomer, you are as I am, in search of a woman, who, added he with a terrible smile, must have passed this way, for I see a corpse.

Three friends remained mute, for although the voice as well as the countenance reminded them of someone they had seen, they could not remember under what circumstances.

Gentlemen, continued the stranger, since you do not recognize a man who probably owed his life to you twice, I must name myself.

I am Lord de Winter, brother in law of that woman.

The three friends uttered a cry of surprise Athos Rose and, offering him his hand.

Be welcome, my Lord, said he, you are one of us.

I set out 5 hours after her from Portsmouth, said Lord de Winter.

I arrived 3 hours after her at Bulgyon.

I missed her by 20 minutes at St.

Omer.

Finally at Lily's, I lost all trace of her.

I was going about at random inquiring of everybody.

When I saw you gallop past.

I recognized Monsieur D'Artagnan.

I called to you, but you did not answer me.

I wish to follow you, but my horse was too much fatigued to go at the same pace with yours, and yet it appears, in spite of all your diligence, you have arrived too late.

You see, said Athos, pointing to Madame bonuses dead, and to D'Artagnan, whom Porthos and Aramis were trying to recall to life.

Are they both dead?

Asked Lord de Winter sternly.

No, replied Athos.

Fortunately, Monsieur D'Artagnan has only fainted.

Indeed, so much the better, said Lord de Winter.

At that moment D'Artagnan opened his eyes.

He tore himself from the arms of Porthos and Aramis and threw himself like a madman on the corpse of his mistress.

Athos rose, walked toward his friend with a slow and solemn step, embraced him tenderly, and as he burst into violent sobs, he said to him with his Noble and persuasive voice, Friend, be a man.

Women weep for the dead men.

Avenge them.

Oh, yes, cried D'Artagnan.

Yes, if it be to avenge her, I am ready to follow you.

Athos profited by this moment of strength which the hope of vengeance restored to his unfortunate friend, to make a sign to Porthos and Aramis to go and fetch the superior.

The two friends met her in the corridor, greatly troubled and much upset by such strange events.

She called some of the nuns, who, against all monastic custom, found themselves in the presence of five men.

Madame, said Athos, passing his arm under that of D'Artagnan, we abandon to your pious care the body of that unfortunate woman.

She was an angel on Earth before being an angel in heaven.

Treat her as one of your sisters.

We will return some day to pray over her grave.

D'artagnan concealed his face in the bosom of Athos and sobbed aloud.

Weep, said Athos, weep heart full of love, youth, and life.

Alas, what I could weep like you.

And he threw away his friend as affectionate as a father, as consoling as a priest, Noble as a man who has suffered much.

All five, followed by their lackeys leading their horses, took their way to the town of Bethune, whose outskirts they perceived and stopped before the first Inn they came to.

But, said D'Artagnan, shall we not pursue that woman?

Later said Athos, I have measures to take.

She will escape us, replied the young man.

She will escape us, and it will be your fault, Athos.

I will be accountable for her, said Athos.

D'artagnan had so much confidence in the void of his friend that he lowered his head and entered the Inn without reply.

Porthos and Aramis regarded each other, not understanding this assurance of Athos.

Lord de Winter believed he spoke in this manner to soothe the grief of D'Artagnan.

Now, gentlemen, said Athos, when he had ascertained there were five Chambers free in the hotel, let everyone retire to his own apartment.

D'artagnan needs to be alone, to weep and to sleep.

I take charge of everything.

Be easy, it appears, however, said Lord the Winter, if there are any measures to take against the Countess, it concerns me.

She is my sisterinlaw and me, said Athos.

She is my wife.

D'artagnan smiled, for he understood that Athos was sure of his vengeance.

When he revealed such a secret Porthos and Aramis looked at each other and grew pale.

Lord de Winter thought Athos was mad.

Now retire to your Chambers, said Athos, and leave me to act.

You must perceive that in my quality of a husband this concerns me only D'Artagnan if you have not lost it, give me the paper which fell from that man's hat upon which has written the name of the village of oh, said D'Artagnan.

I comprehend that name written in her hand.

You see then, said Athos, there is a God in heaven still.

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