SOUBRETTE AND MISTRESS

Meantime, as we have said, despite the cries of his

conscience and the wise counsels of Athos, D`Artagnan became

hourly more in love with Milady. Thus he never failed to

pay his diurnal court to her; and the self-satisfied Gascon

was convinced that sooner or later she could not fail to

respond.

One day, when he arrived with his head in the air, and as

light at heart as a man who awaits a shower of gold, he

found the SOUBRETTE under the gateway of the hotel; but this

time the pretty Kitty was not contented with touching him as

he passed, she took him gently by the hand.

"Good!" thought D`Artagnan, "She is charged with some

message for me from her mistress; she is about to appoint

some rendezvous of which she had not courage to speak." And

he looked down at the pretty girl with the most triumphant

air imaginable.

"I wish to say three words to you, Monsieur Chevalier,"

stammered the SOUBRETTE.

"Speak, my child, speak," said D`Artagnan; "I listen."

"Here? Impossible! That which I have to say is too long,

and above all, too secret."

"Well, what is to be done?"

"If Monsieur Chevalier would follow me?" said Kitty,

timidly.

"Where you please, my dear child."

"Come, then."

And Kitty, who had not let go the hand of D`Artagnan, led

him up a little dark, winding staircase, and after ascending

about fifteen steps, opened a door.

"Come in here, Monsieur Chevalier," said she; "here we shall

be alone, and can talk."

"And whose room is this, my dear child?"

"It is mine, Monsieur Chevalier; it communicates with my

mistress`s by that door. But you need not fear. She will

not hear what we say; she never goes to bed before

midnight,"

D`Artagnan cast a glance around him. The little apartment

was charming for its taste and neatness; but in spite of

himself, his eyes were directed to that door which Kitty

said led to Milady`s chamber.

Kitty guessed what was passing in the mind of the young man,

and heaved a deep sigh.

"You love my mistress, then, very dearly, Monsieur

Chevalier?" said she.

"Oh, more than I can say, Kitty! I am mad for her!"

Kitty breathed a second sigh.

"Alas, monsieur," said she, "that is too bad."

"What the devil do you see so bad in it?" said D`Artagnan.

"Because, monsieur," replied Kitty, "my mistress loves you

not at all."

"HEIN!" said D`Artagnan, "can she have charged you to tell

me so?"

"Oh, no, monsieur; but out of the regard I have for you, I

have taken the resolution to tell you so."

"Much obliged, my dear Kitty; but for the intention only--for

the information, you must agree, is not likely to be at all

agreeable."

"That is to say, you don`t believe what I have told you; is

it not so?"

"We have always some difficulty in believing such things, my

pretty dear, were it only from self-love."

"Then you don`t believe me?"

"I confess that unless you deign to give me some proof of

what you advance--"

"What do you think of this?"

Kitty drew a little note from her bosom.

"For me?" said Derogation, seizing the letter.

"No; for another."

"For another?"

"Yes."

"His name; his name!" cried D`Artagnan.

"Read the address."

"Monsieur El Comte de Wardes."

The remembrance of the scene at St. Germain presented itself

to the mind of the presumptuous Gascon. As quick as

thought, he tore open the letter, in spite of the cry which

Kitty uttered on seeing what he was going to do, or rather,

what he was doing.

"Oh, good Lord, Monsieur Chevalier," said she, "what are you

doing?"

"I?" said D`Artagnan; "nothing," and he read,

"You have not answered my first note. Are you indisposed,

or have you forgotten the glances you favored me with at the

ball of Mme. de Guise? You have an opportunity now, Count;

do not allow it to escape."

D`Artagnan became very pale; he was wounded in his SELF-

love: he thought that it was in his LOVE.

"Poor dear Monsieur D`Artagnan," said Kitty, in a voice full

of compassion, and pressing anew the young man`s hand.

"You pity me, little one?" said D`Artagnan.

"Oh, yes, and with all my heart; for I know what it is to be

in love."

"You know what it is to be in love?" said D`Artagnan,

looking at her for the first time with much attention.

"Alas, yes."

"Well, then, instead of pitying me, you would do much better

to assist me in avenging myself on your mistress."

"And what sort of revenge would you take?"

"I would triumph over her, and supplant my rival."

"I will never help you in that, Monsieur Chevalier," said

Kitty, warmly.

"And why not?" demanded D`Artagnan.

"For two reasons."

"What ones?"

"The first is that my mistress will never love you."

"How do you know that?"

"You have cut her to the heart."

"I? In what can I have offended her--I who ever since I have

known her have lived at her feet like a slave? Speak, I beg

you!"

"I will never confess that but to the man--who should read to

the bottom of my soul!"

D`Artagnan looked at Kitty for the second time. The young

girl had freshness and beauty which many duchesses would

have purchased with their coronets.

"Kitty," said he, "I will read to the bottom of your soul

when-ever you like; don`t let that disturb you." And he gave

her a kiss at which the poor girl became as red as a cherry.

"Oh, no," said Kitty, "it is not me you love! It is my

mistress you love; you told me so just now."

"And does that hinder you from letting me know the second

reason?"

"The second reason, Monsieur the Chevalier," replied Kitty,

emboldened by the kiss in the first place, and still further

by the expression of the eyes of the young man, "is that in

love, everyone for herself!"

Then only D`Artagnan remembered the languishing glances of

Kitty, her constantly meeting him in the antechamber, the

corridor, or on the stairs, those touches of the hand every

time she met him, and her deep sighs; but absorbed by his

desire to please the great lady, he had disdained the

soubrette. He whose game is the eagle takes no heed of the

sparrow.

But this time our Gascon saw at a glance all the advantage

to be derived from the love which Kitty had just confessed

so innocently, or so boldly: the interception of letters

addressed to the Comte de Wardes, news on the spot, entrance

at all hours into Kitty`s chamber, which was contiguous to

her mistress`s. The perfidious deceiver was, as may plainly

be perceived, already sacrificing, in intention, the poor

girl in order to obtain Milady, willy-nilly.

"Well," said he to the young girl, "are you willing, my dear

Kitty, that I should give you a proof of that love which you

doubt?"

"What love?" asked the young girl.

"Of that which I am ready to feel toward you."

"And what is that proof?"

"Are you willing that I should this evening pass with you

the time I generally spend with your mistress?"

"Oh, yes," said Kitty, clapping her hands, "very willing."

"Well, then, come here, my dear," said D`Artagnan,

establishing himself in an easy chair; "come, and let me

tell you that you are the prettiest SOUBRETTE I ever saw!"

And he did tell her so much, and so well, that the poor

girl, who asked nothing better than to believe him, did

believe him. Nevertheless, to D`Artagnan`s great

astonishment, the pretty Kitty defended herself resolutely.

Time passes quickly when it is passed in attacks and

defenses. Midnight sounded, and almost at the same time the

bell was rung in Milady`s chamber.

"Good God," cried Kitty, "there is my mistress calling me!

Go; go directly!"

D`Artagnan rose, took his hat, as if it had been his

intention to obey, then, opening quickly the door of a large

closet instead of that leading to the staircase, he buried

himself amid the robes and dressing gowns of Milady.

"What are you doing?" cried Kitty.

D`Artagnan, who had secured the key, shut himself up in the

closet without reply.

"Well," cried Milady, in a sharp voice. "Are you asleep,

that you don`t answer when I ring?"

And D`Artagnan heard the door of communication opened

violently.

"Here am I, Milady, here am I!" cried Kitty, springing

forward to meet her mistress.

Both went into the bedroom, and as the door of communication

remained open, D`Artagnan could hear Milady for some time

scolding her maid. She was at length appeased, and the

conversation turned upon him while Kitty was assisting her

mistress.

"Well," said Milady, "I have not seen our Gascon this

evening."

"What, Milady! has he not come?" said Kitty. "Can he be

inconstant before being happy?"

"Oh, no; he must have been prevented by Monsieur de Treville

or Monsieur Dessessart. I understand my game, Kitty; I have

this one safe."

"What will you do with him, madame?"

"What will I do with him? Be easy, Kitty, there is

something between that man and me that he is quite ignorant

of: he nearly made me lose my credit with his Eminence. Oh,

I will be revenged!"

"I believed that Madame loved him."

"I love him? I detest him! An idiot, who held the life of

Lord de Winter in his bands and did not kill him, by which I

missed three hundred thousand livres` income."

"That`s true," said Kitty; "your son was the only heir of

his uncle, and until his majority you would have had the

enjoyment of his fortune."

D`Artagnan shuddered to the marrow at hearing this suave

creature reproach him, with that sharp voice which she took

such pains to conceal in conversation, for not having killed

a man whom he had seen load her with kindnesses.

"For all this," continued Milady, "I should long ago have

revenged myself on him if, and I don`t know why, the

cardinal had not requested me to conciliate him."

"Oh, yes; but Madame has not conciliated that little woman

he was so fond of."

"What, the mercer`s wife of the Rue des Fossoyeurs? Has he

not already forgotten she ever existed? Fine vengeance

that, on my faith!"

A cold sweat broke from D`Artagnan`s brow. Why, this woman

was a monster! He resumed his listening, but unfortunately

the toilet was finished.

"That will do," said Milady; "go into your own room, and

tomorrow endeavor again to get me an answer to the letter I

gave you."

"For Monsieur de Wardes?" said Kitty.

"To be sure; for Monsieur de Wardes."

"Now, there is one," said Kitty, "who appears to me quite a

different sort of a man from that poor Monsieur D`Artagnan."

"Go to bed, mademoiselle," said Milady; "I don`t like

comments."

D`Artagnan heard the door close; then the noise of two bolts

by which Milady fastened herself in. On her side, but as

softly as possible, Kitty turned the key of the lock, and

then D`Artagnan opened the closet door.

"Oh, good Lord!" said Kitty, in a low voice, "what is the

matter with you? How pale you are!"

"The abominable creature" murmured D`Artagnan.

"Silence, silence, begone!" said Kitty. "There is nothing

but a wainscot between my chamber and Milady`s; every word

that is uttered in one can be heard in the other."

"That`s exactly the reason I won`t go," said D`Artagnan.

"What!" said Kitty, blushing.

"Or, at least, I will go--later."

He drew Kitty to him. She had the less motive to resist,

resistance would make so much noise. Therefore Kitty

surrendered.

It was a movement of vengeance upon Milady. D`Artagnan

believed it right to say that vengeance is the pleasure of

the gods. With a little more heart, he might have been

contented with this new conquest; but the principal features

of his character were ambition and pride. It must, however,

be confessed in his justification that the first use he made

of his influence over Kitty was to try and find out what had

become of Mme. Bonacieux; but the poor girl swore upon the

crucifix to D`Artagnan that she was entirely ignorant on

that head, her mistress never admitting her into half her

secrets--only she believed she could say she was not dead.

As to the cause which was near making Milady lose her credit

with the cardinal, Kitty knew nothing about it; but this

time D`Artagnan was better informed than she was. As he had

seen Milady on board a vessel at the moment he was leaving

England, he suspected that it was, almost without a doubt,

on account of the diamond studs.

But what was clearest in all this was that the true hatred,

the profound hatred, the inveterate hatred of Milady, was

increased by his not having killed her brother-in-law.

D`Artagnan came the next day to Milady`s, and finding her in

a very ill-humor, had no doubt that it was lack of an answer

from M. de Wardes that provoked her thus. Kitty came in,

but Milady was very cross with her. The poor girl ventured

a glance at D`Artagnan which said, "See how I suffer on your

account!"

Toward the end of the evening, however, the beautiful

lioness became milder; she smilingly listened to the soft

speeches of D`Artagnan, and even gave him her hand to kiss.

D`Artagnan departed, scarcely knowing what to think, but as

he was a youth who did not easily lose his head, while

continuing to pay his court to Milady, he had framed a

little plan in his mind.

He found Kitty at the gate, and, as on the preceding

evening, went up to her chamber. Kitty had been accused of

negligence and severely scolded. Milady could not at all

comprehend the silence of the Comte de Wardes, and she

ordered Kitty to come at nine o`clock in the morning to take

a third letter.

D`Artagnan made Kitty promise to bring him that letter on

the following morning. The poor girl promised all her lover

desired; she was mad.

Things passed as on the night before. D`Artagnan concealed

himself in his closet; Milady called, undressed, sent away

Kitty, and shut the door. As the night before, D`Artagnan

did not return home till five o`clock in the morning.

At eleven o`clock Kitty came to him. She held in her hand a

fresh billet from Milady. This time the poor girl did not

even argue with D`Artagnan; she gave it to him at once. She

belonged body and soul to her handsome soldier.

D`Artagnan opened the letter and read as follows:

This is the third time I have written to you to tell you

that I love you. Beware that I do not write to you a fourth

time to tell you that I detest you.

If you repent of the manner in which you have acted toward

me, the young girl who brings you this will tell you how a

man of spirit may obtain his pardon.

D`Artagnan colored and grew pale several times in reading

this billet.

"Oh, you love her still," said Kitty, who had not taken her

eyes off the young man`s countenance for an instant.

"No, Kitty, you are mistaken. I do not love her, but I will

avenge myself for her contempt."

"Oh, yes, I know what sort of vengeance! You told me that!"

"What matters it to you, Kitty? You know it is you alone

whom I love."

"How can I know that?"

"By the scorn I will throw upon her."

D`Artagnan took a pen and wrote:

Madame, Until the present moment I could not believe that it

was to me your first two letters were addressed, so unworthy

did I feel myself of such an honor; besides, I was so

seriously indisposed that I could not in any case have

replied to them.

But now I am forced to believe in the excess of your

kindness, since not only your letter but your servant

assures me that I have the good fortune to be beloved by

you.

She has no occasion to teach me the way in which a man of

spirit may obtain his pardon. I will come and ask mine at

eleven o`clock this evening.

To delay it a single day would be in my eyes now to commit a

fresh offense.

>From him whom you have rendered the happiest of men,

Comte de Wardes

This note was in the first place a forgery; it was likewise

an indelicacy. It was even, according to our present

manners, something like an infamous action; but at that

period people did not manage affairs as they do today.

Besides, D`Artagnan from her own admission knew Milady

culpable of treachery in matters more important, and could

entertain no respect for her. And yet, notwithstanding this

want of respect, he felt an uncontrollable passion for this

woman boiling in his veins--passion drunk with contempt; but

passion or thirst, as the reader pleases.

D`Artagnan`s plan was very simple. By Kitty`s chamber he

could gain that of her mistress. He would take advantage of

the first moment of surprise, shame, and terror, to triumph

over her. He might fail, but something must be left to

chance. In eight days the campaign would open, and he would

be compelled to leave Paris; D`Artagnan had no time for a

prolonged love siege.

"There," said the young man, handing Kitty the letter

sealed; "give that to Milady. It is the count`s reply."

Poor Kitty became as pale as death; she suspected what the

letter contained.

"Listen, my dear girl," said D`Artagnan; "you cannot but

perceive that all this must end, some way or other. Milady

may discover that you gave the first billet to my lackey

instead of to the count`s; that it is I who have opened the

others which ought to have been opened by De Wardes. Milady

will then turn you out of doors, and you know she is not the

woman to limit her vengeance. "Alas!" said Kitty, "for whom

have I exposed myself to all that?"

"For me, I well know, my sweet girl," said D`Artagnan. "But

I am grateful, I swear to you."

"But what does this note contain?"

"Milady will tell you."

"Ah, you do not love me!" cried Kitty, "and I am very

wretched."

To this reproach there is always one response which deludes

women. D`Artagnan replied in such a manner that Kitty

remained in her great delusion. Although she cried freely

before deciding to transmit the letter to her mistress, she

did at last so decide, which was all D`Artagnan wished.

Finally he promised that he would leave her mistress`s

presence at an early hour that evening, and that when he

left the mistress he would ascend with the maid. This

promise completed poor Kitty`s consolation.

Date: 2015-01-29; view: 710