CAPTIVITY: THE FIFTH DAY

Milady had however achieved a half-triumph, and success doubled

her forces.

It was not difficult to conquer, as she had hitherto done, men

prompt to let themselves be seduced, and whom the gallant

education of a court led quickly into her net. Milady was

handsome enough not to find much resistance on the part of the

flesh, and she was sufficiently skillful to prevail over all the

obstacles of the mind.

But this time she had to contend with an unpolished nature,

concentrated and insensible by force of austerity. Religion and

its observances had made Felton a man inaccessible to ordinary

seductions. There fermented in that sublimated brain plans so

vast, projects so tumultuous, that there remained no room for any

capricious or material love--that sentiment which is fed by

leisure and grows with corruption. Milady had, then, made a

breach by her false virtue in the opinion of a man horribly

prejudiced against her, and by her beauty in the heart of a man

hitherto hitherto chaste and pure. In short, she had taken the

measure of motives hitherto unknown to herself, through this

experiment, made upon the most rebellious subject that nature and

religion could submit to her study.

Many a time, nevertheless, during the evening she despaired of

fate and of herself. She did not invoke God, we very well know,

but she had faith in the genius of evil--that immense sovereignty

which reigns in all the details of human life, and by which, as

in the Arabian fable, a single pomegranate seed is sufficient to

reconstruct a ruined world.

Milady, being well prepared for the reception of Felton, was able

to erect her batteries for the next day. She knew she had only

two days left; that when once the order was signed by Buckingham-

-and Buckingham would sign it the more readily from its bearing a

false name, and he could not, therefore, recognize the woman in

question--once this order was signed, we say, the baron would

make her embark immediately, and she knew very well that women

condemned to exile employ arms much less powerful in their

seductions than the pretendedly virtuous woman whose beauty is

lighted by the sun of the world, whose style the voice of fashion

lauds, and whom a halo of aristocracy gilds with enchanting

splendors. To be a woman condemned to a painful and disgraceful

punishment is no impediment to beauty, but it is an obstacle to

the recovery of power. Like all persons of real genius, Milady

knew what suited her nature and her means. Poverty was repugnant

to her; degradation took away two-thirds of her greatness.

Milady was only a queen while among queens. The pleasure of

satisfied pride was necessary to her domination. To command

inferior beings was rather a humiliation than a pleasure for her.

She should certainly return from her exile--she did not doubt

that a single instant; but how long might this exile last? For

an active, ambitious nature, like that of Milady, days not spent

in climbing are inauspicious days. What word, then, can be found

to describe the days which they occupy in descending? To lose a

year, two years, three years, is to talk of an eternity; to

return after the death or disgrace of the cardinal, perhaps; to

return when D`Artagnan and his friends, happy and triumphant,

should have received from the queen the reward they had well

acquired by the services they had rendered her--these were

devouring ideas that a woman like Milady could not endure. For

the rest, the storm which raged within her doubled her strength,

and she would have burst the walls of her prison if her body had

been able to take for a single instant the proportions of her

mind.

Then that which spurred her on additionally in the midst of all

this was the remembrance of the cardinal. What must the

mistrustful, restless, suspicious cardinal think of her silence--

the cardinal, not merely her only support, her only prop, her

only protector at present, but still further, the principal

instrument of her future fortune and vengeance? She knew him;

she knew that at her return from a fruitless journey it would be

in vain to tell him of her imprisonment, in vain to enlarge upon

the sufferings she had undergone. The cardinal would reply, with

the sarcastic calmness of the skeptic, strong at once by power

and genius, "You should not have allowed yourself to be taken."

Then Milady collected all her energies, murmuring in the depths

of her soul the name of Felton--the only beam of light that

penetrated to her in the hell into which she had fallen; and like

a serpent which folds and unfolds its rings to ascertain its

strength, she enveloped Felton beforehand in the thousand meshes

of her inventive imagination.

Time, however, passed away; the hours, one after another, seemed

to awaken the clock as they passed, and every blow of the brass

hammer resounded upon the heart of the prisoner. At nine

o`clock, Lord de Winter made his customary visit, examined the

window and the bars, sounded the floor and the walls, looked to

the chimney and the doors, without, during this long and minute

examination, he or Milady pronouncing a single word.

Doubtless both of them understood that the situation had become

too serious to lose time in useless words and aimless wrath.

"Well," said the baron, on leaving her "you will not escape

tonight!"

At ten o`clock Felton came and placed the sentinel. Milady

recognized his step. She was as well acquainted with it now as a

mistress is with that of the lover of her heart; and yet Milady

at the same time detested and despised this weak fanatic.

That was not the appointed hour. Felton did not enter.

Two hours after, as midnight sounded, the sentinel was relieved.

This time it WAS the hour, and from this moment Milady waited

with impatience. The new sentinel commenced his walk in the

corridor. At the expiration of ten minutes Felton came.

Milady was all attention.

"Listen," said the young man to the sentinel. "On no pretense

leave the door, for you know that last night my Lord punished a

soldier for having quit his post for an instant, although I,

during his absence, watched in his place."

"Yes, I know it," said the soldier.

"I recommend you therefore to keep the strictest watch. For my

part I am going to pay a second visit to this woman, who I fear

entertains sinister intentions upon her own life, and I have

received orders to watch her."

"Good!" murmured Milady; "the austere Puritan lies."

As to the soldier, he only smiled.

"Zounds, Lieutenant!" said he; "you are not unlucky in being

charged with such commissions, particularly if my Lord has

authorized you to look into her bed."

Felton blushed. Under any other circumstances he would have

reprimanded the soldier for indulging in such pleasantry, but his

conscience murmured too loud for his mouth to dare speak.

"If I call, come," said he. "If anyone comes, call me."

"I will, Lieutenant," said the soldier.

Felton entered Milady`s apartment. Milady arose.

"You are here!" said she.

"I promised to come," said Felton, "and I have come."

"You promised me something else."

"What, my God!" said the young man, who in spite of his self-

command felt his knees tremble and the sweat start from his brow.

"You promised to bring a knife, and to leave it with me after our

interview."

"Say no more of that, madame," said Felton. "There is no

situation, however terrible it may be, which can authorize a

creature of God to inflict death upon himself. I have reflected,

and I cannot, must not be guilty of such a sin."

"Ah, you have reflected!" said the prisoner, sitting down in her

armchair, with a smile of disdain; "and I also have reflected."

"Upon what?"

"That I can have nothing to say to a man who does not keep his

word."

"Oh, my God!" murmured Felton.

"You may retire," said Milady. "I will not talk."

"Here is the knife," said Felton, drawing from his pocket the

weapon which he had brought, according to his promise, but which

he hesitated to give to his prisoner.

"Let me see it," said Milady.

"For what purpose?"

"Upon my honor, I will instantly return it to you. You shall

place it on that table, and you may remain between it and me."

Felton offered the weapon to Milady, who examined the temper of

it attentively, and who tried the point on the tip of her finger.

"Well," said she, returning the knife to the young officer, "this

is fine and good steel. You are a faithful friend, Felton."

Felton took back the weapon, and laid it upon the table, as he

had agreed with the prisoner.

Milady followed him with her eyes, and made a gesture of

satisfaction.

"Now," said she, "listen to me."

The request was needless. The young officer stood upright before

her, awaiting her words as if to devour them.

"Felton," said Milady, with a solemnity full of melancholy,

"imagine that your sister, the daughter of your father, speaks to

you. While yet young, unfortunately handsome, I was dragged into

a snare. I resisted. Ambushes and violences multiplied around

me, but I resisted. The religion I serve, the God I adore, were

blasphemed because I called upon that religion and that God, but

still I resisted. Then outrages were heaped upon me, and as my

soul was not subdued they wished to defile my body forever.

Finally--"

Milady stopped, and a bitter smile passed over her lips.

"Finally," said Felton, "finally, what did they do?"

"At length, one evening my enemy resolved to paralyze the

resistance he could not conquer. One evening he mixed a powerful

narcotic with my water. Scarcely had I finished my repast, when

I felt myself sink by degrees into a strange torpor. Although I

was without mistrust, a vague fear seized me, and I tried to

struggle against sleepiness. I arose. I wished to run to the

window and call for help, but my legs refused their office. It

appeared as if the ceiling sank upon my head and crushed me with

its weight. I stretched out my arms. I tried to speak. I could

only utter inarticulate sounds, and irresistible faintness came

over me. I supported myself by a chair, feeling that I was about

to fall, but this support was soon insufficient on account of my

weak arms. I fell upon one knee, then upon both. I tried to

pray, but my tongue was frozen. God doubtless neither heard nor

saw me, and I sank upon the floor a prey to a slumber which

resembled death.

"Of all that passed in that sleep, or the time which glided away

while it lasted, I have no remembrance. The only thing I

recollect is that I awoke in bed in a round chamber, the

furniture of which was sumptuous, and into which light only

penetrated by an opening in the ceiling. No door gave entrance

to the room. It might be called a magnificent prison.

"It was a long time before I was able to make out what place I

was in, or to take account of the details I describe. My mind

appeared to strive in vain to shake off the heavy darkness of the

sleep from which I could not rouse myself. I had vague

perceptions of space traversed, of the rolling of a carriage, of

a horrible dream in which my strength had become exhausted; but

all this was so dark and so indistinct in my mind that these

events seemed to belong to another life than mine, and yet mixed

with mine in fantastic duality.

"At times the state into which I had fallen appeared so strange

that I believed myself dreaming. I arose trembling. My clothes

were near me on a chair; I neither remembered having undressed

myself nor going to bed. Then by degrees the reality broke upon

me, full of chaste terrors. I was no longer in the house where I

had dwelt. As well as I could judge by the light of the sun, the

day was already two-thirds gone. It was the evening before when

I had fallen asleep; my sleep, then, must have lasted twenty-four

hours! What had taken place during this long sleep?

"I dressed myself as quickly as possible; my slow and stiff

motions all attested that the effects of the narcotic were not

yet entirely dissipated. The chamber was evidently furnished for

the reception of a woman; and the most finished coquette could

not have formed a wish, but on casting her eyes about the

apartment, she would have found that wish accomplished.

"Certainly I was not the first captive that had been shut up in

this splendid prison; but you may easily comprehend, Felton, that

the more superb the prison, the greater was my terror.

"Yes, it was a prison, for I tried in vain to get out of it. I

sounded all the walls, in the hopes of discovering a door, but

everywhere the walls returned a full and flat sound.

"I made the tour of the room at least twenty times, in search of

an outlet of some kind; but there was none. I sank exhausted

with fatigue and terror into an armchair.

"Meantime, night came on rapidly, and with night my terrors

increased. I did not know but I had better remain where I was

seated. It appeared that I was surrounded with unknown dangers

into which I was about to fall at every instant. Although I had

eaten nothing since the evening before, my fears prevented my

feeling hunger.

"No noise from without by which I could measure the time reached

me; I only supposed it must be seven or eight o`clock in the

evening, for it was in the month of October and it was quite

dark.

"All at once the noise of a door, turning on its hinges, made me

start. A globe of fire appeared above the glazed opening of the

ceiling, casting a strong light into my chamber; and I perceived

with terror that a man was standing within a few paces of me.

"A table, with two covers, bearing a supper ready prepared,

stood, as if by magic, in the middle of the apartment.

"That man was he who had pursued me during a whole year, who had

vowed my dishonor, and who, by the first words that issued from

his mouth, gave me to understand he had accomplished it the

preceding night."

"Scoundrel!" murmured Felton.

"Oh, yes, scoundrel!" cried Milady, seeing the interest which the

young officer, whose soul seemed to hang on her lips, took in

this strange recital. "Oh, yes, scoundrel! He believed, having

triumphed over me in my sleep, that all was completed. He came,

hoping that I would accept my shame, as my shame was consummated;

he came to offer his fortune in exchange for my love.

"All that the heart of a woman could contain of haughty contempt

and disdainful words, I poured out upon this man. Doubtless he

was accustomed to such reproaches, for he listened to me calm and

smiling, with his arms crossed over his breast. Then, when he

thought I had said all, he advanced toward me; I sprang toward

the table, I seized a knife, I placed it to my breast.

"Take one step more," said I, "and in addition to my dishonor,

you shall have my death to reproach yourself with."

"There was, no doubt, in my look, my voice, my whole person, that

sincerity of gesture, of attitude, of accent, which carries

conviction to the most perverse minds, for he paused.

"`Your death?` said he; `oh, no, you are too charming a mistress

to allow me to consent to lose you thus, after I have had the

happiness to possess you only a single time. Adieu, my charmer;

I will wait to pay you my next visit till you are in a better

humor.`

"At these words he blew a whistle; the globe of fire which

lighted the room reascended and disappeared. I found myself

again in complete darkness. The same noise of a door opening and

shutting was repeated the instant afterward; the flaming globe

descended afresh, and I was completely alone.

"This moment was frightful; if I had any doubts as to my

misfortune, these doubts had vanished in an overwhelming reality.

I was in the power of a man whom I not only detested, but

despised--of a man capable of anything, and who had already given

me a fatal proof of what he was able to do."

"But who, then was this man?" asked Felton.

"I passed the night on a chair, starting at the least noise, for

toward midnight the lamp went out, and I was again in darkness.

But the night passed away without any fresh attempt on the part

of my persecutor. Day came; the table had disappeared, only I

had still the knife in my hand.

"This knife was my only hope.

"I was worn out with fatigue. Sleeplessness inflamed my eyes; I

had not dared to sleep a single instant. The light of day

reassured me; I went and threw myself on the bed, without parting

with the emancipating knife, which I concealed under my pillow.

"When I awoke, a fresh meal was served.

"This time, in spite of my terrors, in spite of my agony, I began

to feel a devouring hunger. It was forty-eight hours since I had

taken any nourishment. I ate some bread and some fruit; then,

remembering the narcotic mixed with the water I had drunk, I

would not touch that which was placed on the table, but filled my

glass at a marble fountain fixed in the wall over my dressing

table.

"And yet, notwithstanding these precautions, I remained for some

time in a terrible agitation of mind. But my fears were this

time ill-founded; I passed the day without experiencing anything

of the kind I dreaded.

"I took the precaution to half empty the carafe, in order that my

suspicions might not be noticed.

"The evening came on, and with it darkness; but however profound

was this darkness, my eyes began to accustom themselves to it. I

saw, amid the shadows, the table sink through the floor; a

quarter of an hour later it reappeared, bearing my supper. In an

instant, thanks to the lamp, my chamber was once more lighted.

"I was determined to eat only such things as could not possibly

have anything soporific introduced into them. Two eggs and some

fruit composed my repast; then I drew another glass of water from

my protecting fountain, and drank it.

"At the first swallow, it appeared to me not to have the same

taste as in the morning. Suspicion instantly seized me. I

paused, but I had already drunk half a glass.

"I threw the rest away with horror, and waited, with the dew of

fear upon my brow.

"No doubt some invisible witness had seen me draw the water from

that fountain, and had taken advantage of my confidence in it,

the better to assure my ruin, so coolly resolved upon, so cruelly

pursued.

"Half an hour had not passed when the same symptoms began to

appear; but as I had only drunk half a glass of the water, I

contended longer, and instead of falling entirely asleep, I sank

into a state of drowsiness which left me a perception of what was

passing around me, while depriving me of the strength either to

defend myself or to fly.

"I dragged myself toward the bed, to seek the only defense I had

left--my saving knife; but I could not reach the bolster. I sank

on my knees, my hands clasped round one of the bedposts; then I

felt that I was lost."

Felton became frightfully pale, and a convulsive tremor crept

through his whole body.

"And what was most frightful," continued Milady, her voice

altered, as if she still experienced the same agony as at that

awful minute, "was that at this time I retained a consciousness

of the danger that threatened me; was that my soul, if I may say

so, waked in my sleeping body; was that I saw, that I heard. It

is true that all was like a dream, but it was not the less

frightful.

"I saw the lamp ascend, and leave me in darkness; then I heard

the well-known creaking of the door although I had heard that

door open but twice.

"I felt instinctively that someone approached me; it is said that

the doomed wretch in the deserts of America thus feels the

approach of the serpent.

"I wished to make an effort; I attempted to cry out. By an

incredible effort of will I even raised myself up, but only to

sink down again immediately, and to fall into the arms of my

persecutor."

"Tell me who this man was!" cried the young officer.

Milady saw at a single glance all the painful feelings she

inspired in Felton by dwelling on every detail of her recital;

but she would not spare him a single pang. The more profoundly

she wounded his heart, the more certainly he would avenge her.

She continued, then, as if she had not heard his exclamation, or

as if she thought the moment was not yet come to reply to it.

"Only this time it was no longer an inert body, without feeling,

that the villain had to deal with. I have told you that without

being able to regain the complete exercise of my faculties, I

retained the sense of my danger. I struggled, then, with all my

strength, and doubtless opposed, weak as I was, a long

resistance, for I heard him cry out, `These miserable Puritans!

I knew very well that they tired out their executioners, but I

did not believe them so strong against their lovers!`

"Alas! this desperate resistance could not last long. I felt my

strength fail, and this time it was not my sleep that enabled the

coward to prevail, but my swoon."

Felton listened without uttering any word or sound, except an

inward expression of agony. The sweat streamed down his marble

forehead, and his hand, under his coat, tore his breast.

"My first impulse, on coming to myself, was to feel under my

pillow for the knife I had not been able to reach; if it had not

been useful for defense, it might at least serve for expiation.

"But on taking this knife, Felton, a terrible idea occurred to

me. I have sworn to tell you all, and I will tell you all. I

have promised you the truth; I will tell it, were it to destroy

me."

"The idea came into your mind to avenge yourself on this man, did

it not?" cried Felton.

"Yes," said Milady. "The idea was not that of a Christian, I

knew; but without doubt, that eternal enemy of our souls, that

lion roaring constantly around us, breathed it into my mind. In

short, what shall I say to you, Felton?" continued Milady, in the

tone of a woman accusing herself of a crime. "This idea occurred

to me, and did not leave me; it is of this homicidal thought that

I now bear the punishment."

"Continue, continue!" said Felton; "I am eager to see you attain

your vengeance!"

"Oh, I resolved that it should take place as soon as possible. I

had no doubt he would return the following night. During the day

I had nothing to fear.

"When the hour of breakfast came, therefore, I did not hesitate

to eat and drink. I had determined to make believe sup, but to

eat nothing. I was forced, then, to combat the fast of the

evening with the nourishment of the morning.

"Only I concealed a glass of water, which remained after my

breakfast, thirst having been the chief of my sufferings when I

remained forty-eight hours without eating or drinking.

"The day passed away without having any other influence on me

than to strengthen the resolution I had formed; only I took care

that my face should not betray the thoughts of my heart, for I

had no doubt I was watched. Several times, even, I felt a smile

on my lips. Felton, I dare not tell you at what idea I smiled;

you would hold me in horror--"

"Go on! go on!" said Felton; "you see plainly that I listen, and

that I am anxious to know the end."

"Evening came; the ordinary events took place. During the

darkness, as before, my supper was brought. Then the lamp was

lighted, and I sat down to table. I only ate some fruit. I

pretended to pour out water from the jug, but I only drank that

which I had saved in my glass. The substitution was made so

carefully that my spies, if I had any, could have no suspicion of

it.

"After supper I exhibited the same marks of languor as on the

preceding evening; but this time, as I yielded to fatigue, or as

if I had become familiarized with danger, I dragged myself toward

my bed, let my robe fall, and lay down.

"I found my knife where I had placed it, under my pillow, and

while feigning to sleep, my hand grasped the handle of it

convulsively.

"Two hours passed away without anything fresh happening. Oh, my

God! who could have said so the evening before? I began to fear

that he would not come.

"At length I saw the lamp rise softly, and disappear in the

depths of the ceiling; my chamber was filled with darkness and

obscurity, but I made a strong effort to penetrate this darkness

and obscurity.

"Nearly ten minutes passed; I heard no other noise but the

beating of my own heart. I implored heaven that he might come.

"At length I heard the well-known noise of the door, which opened

and shut; I heard, notwithstanding the thickness of the carpet, a

step which made the floor creak; I saw, notwithstanding the

darkness, a shadow which approached my bed."

"Haste! haste!" said Felton; "do you not see that each of your

words burns me like molten lead?"

"Then," continued Milady, "then I collected all my strength; I

recalled to my mind that the moment of vengeance, or rather, of

justice, had struck. I looked upon myself as another Judith; I

gathered myself up, my knife in my hand, and when I saw him near

me, stretching out his arms to find his victim, then, with the

last cry of agony and despair, I struck him in the middle of his

breast.

"The miserable villain! He had foreseen all. His breast was

covered with a coat-of-mail; the knife was bent against it.

"`Ah, ah!` cried he, seizing my arm, and wresting from me the

weapon that had so badly served me, `you want to take my life, do

you, my pretty Puritan? But that`s more than dislike, that`s

ingratitude! Come, come, calm yourself, my sweet girl! I

thought you had softened. I am not one of those tyrants who

detain women by force. You don`t love me. With my usual fatuity

I doubted it; now I am convinced. Tomorrow you shall be free.`

"I had but one wish; that was that he should kill me.

"`Beware!` said I, `for my liberty is your dishonor.`

"`Explain yourself, my pretty sibyl!`

"`Yes; for as soon as I leave this place I will tell everything.

I will proclaim the violence you have used toward me. I will

describe my captivity. I will denounce this place of infamy.

You are placed on high, my Lord, but tremble! Above you there is

the king; above the king there is God!`

"However perfect master he was over himself, my persecutor

allowed a movement of anger to escape him. I could not see the

expression of his countenance, but I felt the arm tremble upon

which my hand was placed.

"`Then you shall not leave this place,` said he.

"`Very well,` cried I, `then the place of my punishment will be

that of my tomb. I will die here, and you will see if a phantom

that accuses is not more terrible than a living being that

threatens!`

"`You shall have no weapon left in your power.`

"`There is a weapon which despair has placed within the reach of

every creature who has the courage to use it. I will allow

myself to die with hunger.`

"`Come,` said the wretch, `is not peace much better than such a

war as that? I will restore you to liberty this moment; I will

proclaim you a piece of immaculate virtue; I will name you the

Lucretia of England.`

"`And I will say that you are the Sextus. I will denounce you

before men, as I have denounced you before God; and if it be

necessary that, like Lucretia, I should sign my accusation with

my blood, I will sign it.`

"`Ah!` said my enemy, in a jeering tone, `that`s quite another

thing. My faith! everything considered, you are very well off

here. You shall want for nothing, and if you let yourself die of

hunger that will be your own fault.`

"At these words he retired. I heard the door open and shut, and

I remained overwhelmed, less, I confess it, by my grief than by

the mortification of not having avenged myself.

"He kept his word. All the day, all the next night passed away

without my seeing him again. But I also kept my word with him,

and I neither ate nor drank. I was, as I told him, resolved to

die of hunger.

"I passed the day and the night in prayer, for I hoped that God

would pardon me my suicide.

"The second night the door opened; I was lying on the floor, for

my strength began to abandon me.

"At the noise I raised myself up on one hand.

"`Well,` said a voice which vibrated in too terrible a manner in

my ear not to be recognized, `well! Are we softened a little?

Will we not pay for our liberty with a single promise of silence?

Come, I am a good sort of a prince,` added he, `and although I

like not Puritans I do them justice; and it is the same with

Puritanesses, when they are pretty. Come, take a little oath for

me on the cross; I won`t ask anything more of you.`

"`On the cross,` cried I, rising, for at that abhorred voice I

had recovered all my strength, `on the cross I swear that no

promise, no menace, no force, no torture, shall close my mouth!

On the cross I swear to denounce you everywhere as a murderer, as

a thief of honor, as a base coward! On the cross I swear, if I

ever leave this place, to call down vengeance upon you from the

whole human race!`

"`Beware!` said the voice, in a threatening accent that I had

never yet heard. `I have an extraordinary means which I will not

employ but in the last extremity to close your mouth, or at least

to prevent anyone from believing a word you may utter.`

"I mustered all my strength to reply to him with a burst of

laughter.

"He saw that it was a merciless war between us--a war to the

death.

"`Listen!` said he. `I give you the rest of tonight and all day

tomorrow. Reflect: promise to be silent, and riches,

consideration, even honor, shall surround you; threaten to speak,

and I will condemn you to infamy.`

"`You?` cried I. `You?`

"`To interminable, ineffaceable infamy!`

"`You?` repeated I. Oh, I declare to you, Felton, I thought him

mad!

"`Yes, yes, I!` replied he.

"`Oh, leave me!` said I. `Begone, if you do not desire to see me

dash my head against that wall before your eyes!`

"`Very well, it is your own doing. Till tomorrow evening, then!`

"`Till tomorrow evening, then!` replied I, allowing myself to

fall, and biting the carpet with rage."

Felton leaned for support upon a piece of furniture; and Milady

saw, with the joy of a demon, that his strength would fail him

perhaps before the end of her recital.

Date: 2015-01-29; view: 635