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

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Welcome to Bite At a Time Books, where we read 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.

Today we will be continuing The Three Musketeers by Alexandra Dumas, chapter 62 Two Varieties of Demons Ah, cried my lady and Roccafort together.

It is you.

Yes, it is I.

And you come ask my lady from La Rochelle.

And you from England.

Buckingham dead or desperately wounded as I left without having been able to hear anything of him.

A fanatic has just assassinated him.

Oh, said Roccafort with a smile, this is a fortunate chance.

One that will delight His Eminence.

Have you informed him of it?

I wrote to him from Bolton.

Yon.

But what brings you here?

His Eminence was uneasy and sent me to find you.

I only arrived yesterday.

And what have you been doing since yesterday?

I've not lost my time.

Oh, I don't doubt that.

Do you know whom I have encountered here?

No.

Guess.

How can I?

That young woman whom the Queen took out of prison.

The mistress of that fellow D'Artagnan?

Yes.

Madame Bonusiu, with whose retreat the Cardinal was unacquainted.

Well, said Rocky Ford, here's a chance which may pair off with the other.

Monsieur Cardinal is indeed a privileged man.

Imagine my astonishment, continued my lady, when I found myself face to face with this woman.

Does she know you?

No.

Then she looks upon you as a stranger.

My lady smiled.

I am her best friend.

Upon my honor, said Rockafort.

It takes you, my dear Countess, to perform such miracles.

And it is.

Well, I can, Chevalier, said my lady, for do you know what is going on here?

No.

They will come for her tomorrow or the day after with an order from the Queen.

Indeed?

And who?

D'artagnan and his friends.

Indeed.

They will go so far that we shall be obliged to send them to the Basil.

Why is it not done already?

What would you.

The Cardinal has a weakness for these men which I cannot comprehend.

Indeed?

Yes.

Well, then, tell him this, Rockafort.

Tell him that our conversation at the end of the Red Devcont was overheard by these four men.

Tell him that after his departure, one of them came up to me and took from me by violence the safe conduct which he had given me.

Tell him they warned Lord de Winter of my journey to England.

At this time they nearly foiled my mission as they foiled the affair of the Studs.

Tell him that among these four men, two only are to be feared.

D'artagnan and Athos.

Tell him that the third, Aramis, is the lover of Madame de Chevrous.

He may be left alone.

We know his secret, and it may be useful as to the fourth Porthos.

He is a fool, a simpleton.

A blustering Boobie, but not worth troubling himself about.

But these four men must now be at the siege of La Rochelle.

I thought so too.

But a letter which Madame Bonusieu has received from Madame the Constable and which she has the imprudence to show me, leads me to believe that these four men, on the contrary, are on the road hither to take her away.

The devil.

What's to be done?

What did the Cardinal say about me?

I was to take your dispatches, written or verbal, and returned by post.

And when he shall know what you have done, he will advise what you have to do.

I must then remain here, here or in the neighborhood.

You cannot take me with you?

No.

The order isn't heritage near the camp.

You might be recognized.

And your presence, you must be aware, would compromise the Cardinal.

Then I must wait here or in the neighborhood.

Only tell me beforehand where you will wait for intelligence from the Cardinal.

Let me know always where to find you.

Observe.

It is probable that I may not be able to remain here.

Why?

You forget that my enemies may arrive at any minute.

That's true.

But is this little woman, then to escape?

His Eminence BA, said my lady, with a smile that belonged only to herself.

You forget that I am her best friend.

Ah, that's true.

I may then tell the Cardinal with respect to this little woman, that he may be at ease.

Is that all?

He will know what that means?

He will guess, at least.

Now then, what had I better do?

Returned instantly.

It appears to me that the news you bear is worth the trouble of a little diligence.

My chase broke down coming into Liliers capital.

What capital?

Yes.

I want your chase.

And how shall I travel then?

On horseback.

You talk very comfortably.

180 leagues.

What's that?

One can do it afterward.

Afterward, lion passing through Lilies.

You will send me your chase with an order to your servant to place himself at my disposal.

Well, you have no doubt some order from the Cardinal about you.

I have my full power.

Show it to the abyss.

And tell her that someone will come and fetch me either today or tomorrow.

And that I am to follow the person who presents himself in your name.

Very well.

Don't forget to treat me harshly in speaking of me to the abyss.

To what purpose?

I am a victim of the Cardinal.

It is necessary to inspire confidence in that poor little Madam Bonus.

You.

That's true.

Now will you make me a report of all that has happened?

Why?

I have related the events to you.

You have a good memory.

Repeat what I have told you.

A paper may be lost.

You're right.

Only let me know where to find you.

That I may not run needlessly about the neighborhood.

That's correct.

Wait.

Do you want a map?

Oh, I know this country.

Marvelously.

You.

When were you here?

I was brought up here.

Truly, it is worth something, you see, to have been brought up somewhere.

You will wait for me, then.

Let me reflect a little high.

That will do.

At Armintieres.

Where is that Armintieres?

A little town.

On the lease.

I shall only have to cross the river, and I shall be in a foreign country capital.

But it is understood you will only cross the river in case of danger.

That is well understood.

And in that case, how shall I know where you are?

You do not want your Lackey.

Is he a sure man to the proof?

Give him to me.

Nobody knows him.

I will leave him at the place.

I quit, and he will conduct you to me.

And you say you will wait for me at Armentieres?

At Armentiers?

Write that name on a bit of paper, lest I should forget it.

There's nothing compromising in the name of a town, is it not so, eh?

Who knows?

Never mind, said my lady, writing the name on half a sheet of paper.

I will compromise myself.

Well, said Rockafort, taking the paper from my lady, folding it and placing it in the lining of his hat.

You may be easy.

I will do as children do for fear of losing the paper.

Repeat the name along the route.

Now, is that all?

I believe so.

Let us see.

Buckingham dead or grievously wounded.

Your conversation with the Cardinal, overheard by the four Musketeers.

Lord de Winter warned of your arrival at Port's Mouth D'Artagnan and Athos to the Basil Aramis, the lover of Madame de Chevroos Porto's.

An a**, Madame Bonus found again to send you the chase as soon as possible.

To place my Lackey at your disposal.

To make you out a victim of the Cardinal, in order that the Abbess may entertain no suspicion.

Armeniars on the bank of the lease.

Is that all, then?

In truth, my dear Chevalier, you are a miracle of memory.

A proposal.

And one thing.

What?

I saw some very pretty woods which almost touched the convent garden.

Say that I am permitted to walk in those woods.

Who knows?

Perhaps I shall stand in need of a back door for retreat.

You think of everything and you forget one thing.

What to ask me if I want money.

That's true.

How much do you want?

All you have in gold.

I have 500 Pistoles.

Or thereabouts.

I have as much with 10 Pistoles.

1 may face everything.

Empty your pockets there.

Right.

And you go in an hour.

Time to eat a morsel, during which I shall send for a posthorse capitolier.

Do you count this?

Commend me to the Cardinal.

Commend me to Satan.

My lady in Rockefort exchanged a smile and separated.

An hour afterward, Rockefort set out at a grand gallop.

5 hours after that, he passed through Arys.

Our readers already know how he was recognized by D'Artagnan and how that recognition by inspiring fear in the four Musketeers had given fresh activity to their journey.

Thank you for joining Bite At A Time Books today while we read a bite of one of your favorite classics, all of the links for our show are in the Show notes.

We are part of the Bite At A Time Books Productions Network.

If you ever wondered what inspired your favorite classic novelist to write their stories, what was happening in their lives or the world at the time, check out Bite at a Time Books behind the Story Tuesdays.

Wherever you listen to podcasts again.