33 SOUBRETTE AND MISTRESS
Meantime, as we have said, despite the cries of his conscience and thewise counsels of Athos, d'Artagnan became hourly more in love withMilady. Thus he never failed to pay his diurnal court to her; and theself-satisfied Gascon was convinced that sooner or later she could notfail to respond.
One day, when he arrived with his head in the air, and as light at heartas a man who awaits a shower of gold, he found the SOUBRETTE under thegateway of the hotel; but this time the pretty Kitty was not contentedwith touching him as he passed, she took him gently by the hand.
"Good!" thought d'Artagnan, "She is charged with some message for mefrom her mistress; she is about to appoint some rendezvous of which shehad not courage to speak." And he looked down at the pretty girl withthe most triumphant air imaginable.
"I wish to say three words to you, Monsieur Chevalier," stammered theSOUBRETTE.
"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 alittle 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 bythat door. But you need not fear. She will not hear what we say; shenever goes to bed before midnight."
D'Artagnan cast a glance around him. The little apartment was charmingfor its taste and neatness; but in spite of himself, his eyes weredirected to that door which Kitty said led to Milady's chamber.
Kitty guessed what was passing in the mind of the young man, and heaveda 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 takenthe resolution to tell you so."
"Much obliged, my dear Kitty; but for the intention only--for theinformation, 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 prettydear, 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 youadvance--"
"What do you think of this?"
Kitty drew a little note from her bosom.
"For me?" said d'Artagnan, 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 mindof the presumptuous Gascon. As quick as thought, he tore open theletter, in spite of the cry which Kitty uttered on seeing what he wasgoing 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 youforgotten 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 thoughtthat it was in his LOVE.
"Poor dear Monsieur d'Artagnan," said Kitty, in a voice full ofcompassion, 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 forthe first time with much attention.
"Alas, yes."
"Well, then, instead of pitying me, you would do much better to assistme 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 herhave 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 bottomof my soul!"
D'Artagnan looked at Kitty for the second time. The young girl hadfreshness and beauty which many duchesses would have purchased withtheir coronets.
"Kitty," said he, "I will read to the bottom of your soul when-ever youlike; don't let that disturb you." And he gave her a kiss at which thepoor girl became as red as a cherry.
"Oh, no," said Kitty, "it is not me you love! It is my mistress youlove; 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, emboldenedby the kiss in the first place, and still further by the expression ofthe eyes of the young man, "is that in love, everyone for herself!"
Then only d'Artagnan remembered the languishing glances of Kitty, herconstantly meeting him in the antechamber, the corridor, or on thestairs, those touches of the hand every time she met him, and her deepsighs; but absorbed by his desire to please the great lady, he haddisdained the soubrette. He whose game is the eagle takes no heed of thesparrow.
But this time our Gascon saw at a glance all the advantage to be derivedfrom the love which Kitty had just confessed so innocently, or soboldly: the interception of letters addressed to the Comte de Wardes,news on the spot, entrance at all hours into Kitty's chamber, which wascontiguous to her mistress's. The perfidious deceiver was, as mayplainly be perceived, already sacrificing, in intention, the poor girlin order to obtain Milady, willy-nilly.
"Well," said he to the young girl, "are you willing, my dear Kitty, thatI 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 Igenerally spend with your mistress?"
"Oh, yes," said Kitty, clapping her hands, "very willing."
"Well, then, come here, my dear," said d'Artagnan, establishing himselfin an easy chair; "come, and let me tell you that you are the prettiestSOUBRETTE I ever saw!"
And he did tell her so much, and so well, that the poor girl, who askednothing better than to believe him, did believe him. Nevertheless, tod'Artagnan's great astonishment, the pretty Kitty defended herselfresolutely.
Time passes quickly when it is passed in attacks and defenses. Midnightsounded, and almost at the same time the bell was rung in Milady'schamber.
"Good God," cried Kitty, "there is my mistress calling me! Go; godirectly!"
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 leadingto the staircase, he buried himself amid the robes and dressing
gowns ofMilady.
"What are you doing?" cried Kitty.
D'Artagnan, who had secured the key, shut himself up in the closetwithout reply.
"Well," cried Milady, in a sharp voice. "Are you asleep, that you don'tanswer 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 meether mistress.
Both went into the bedroom, and as the door of communication remainedopen, d'Artagnan could hear Milady for some time scolding her maid. Shewas at length appeased, and the conversation turned upon him while Kittywas 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 inconstantbefore being happy?"
"Oh, no; he must have been prevented by Monsieur de Treville or MonsieurDessessart. 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 betweenthat man and me that he is quite ignorant of: he nearly made me lose mycredit 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 Winterin his hands and did not kill him, by which I missed three hundredthousand livres' income."
"That's true," said Kitty; "your son was the only heir of his uncle, anduntil his majority you would have had the enjoyment of his fortune."
D'Artagnan shuddered to the marrow at hearing this suave creaturereproach him, with that sharp voice which she took such pains to concealin conversation, for not having killed a man whom he had seen load herwith kindnesses.
"For all this," continued Milady, "I should long ago have revengedmyself on him if, and I don't know why, the cardinal had not requestedme to conciliate him."
"Oh, yes; but Madame has not conciliated that little woman he was sofond of."
"What, the mercer's wife of the Rue des Fossoyeurs? Has he not alreadyforgotten she ever existed? Fine vengeance that, on my faith!"
A cold sweat broke from d'Artagnan's brow. Why, this woman was amonster! He resumed his listening, but unfortunately the toilet wasfinished.
"That will do," said Milady; "go into your own room, and tomorrowendeavor 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 differentsort 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 whichMilady fastened herself in. On her side, but as softly as possible,Kitty turned the key of the lock, and then d'Artagnan opened the closetdoor.
"Oh, good Lord!" said Kitty, in a low voice, "what is the matter withyou? How pale you are!"
"The abominable creature," murmured d'Artagnan.
"Silence, silence, begone!" said Kitty. "There is nothing but a wainscotbetween my chamber and Milady's; every word that is uttered in one canbe 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, resistancewould make so much noise. Therefore Kitty surrendered.
It was a movement of vengeance upon Milady. D'Artagnan believed it rightto say that vengeance is the pleasure of the gods. With a little moreheart, he might have been contented with this new conquest; but theprincipal features of his character were ambition and pride. It must,however, be confessed in his justification that the first use he made ofhis 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 thatshe was entirely ignorant on that head, her mistress never admitting herinto 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 thecardinal, Kitty knew nothing about it; but this time d'Artagnan wasbetter informed than she was. As he had seen Milady on board a vessel atthe moment he was leaving England, he suspected that it was, almostwithout a doubt, on account of the diamond studs.
But what was clearest in all this was that the true hatred, the profoundhatred, the inveterate hatred of Milady, was increased by his not havingkilled her brother-in-law.
D'Artagnan came the next day to Milady's, and finding her in a veryill-humor, had no doubt that it was lack of an answer from M. de Wardesthat provoked her thus. Kitty came in, but Milady was very cross withher. The poor girl ventured a glance at d'Artagnan which said, "See howI suffer on your account!"
Toward the end of the evening, however, the beautiful lioness becamemilder; she smilingly listened to the soft speeches of d'Artagnan, andeven gave him her hand to kiss.
D'Artagnan departed, scarcely knowing what to think, but as he was ayouth who did not easily lose his head, while continuing to pay hiscourt 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 toher 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 athird letter.
D'Artagnan made Kitty promise to bring him that letter on the followingmorning. The poor girl promised all her lover desired; she was mad.
Things passed as on the night before. D'Artagnan concealed himself inhis closet; Milady called, undressed, sent away Kitty, and shut thedoor. As the night before, d'Artagnan did not return home till fiveo'clock in the morning.
At eleven o'clock Kitty came to him. She held in her hand a fresh billetfrom 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 handsomesoldier.
D'Artagnan opened the letter and read as follows:
This is the third time I have written to you to tell you that I loveyou. Beware that I do not write to you a fourth time to tell you that Idetest you.
If you repent of the manner in which you have acted toward me, the younggirl who brings you this will tell you how a man of spirit may obtainhis 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 theyoung man's countenance for an instant.
"No, Kitty, you are mistaken. I do not love her, but I will avengemyself 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 meyour first two letters were addressed, so unworthy did I feel myself ofsuch an honor; besides, I was so seriously indisposed that I could notin any case have replied to them.
But now I am forced to believe in the excess of your kindness, since notonly your letter but your servant assures me that I have the goodfortune to be beloved by you.
She has no occasion to teach me the way in which a man of spirit mayobtain his pardon. I will come and ask mine at eleven o'clock thisevening.
To delay it a single day would be in my eyes now to commit a freshoffense.
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 anindelicacy. It was even, according to our present manners, somethinglike an infamous action; but at that period people did not manageaffairs as they do today. Besides, d'Artagnan from her own admissionknew Milady culpable
of treachery in matters more important, and couldentertain no respect for her. And yet, notwithstanding this want ofrespect, he felt an uncontrollable passion for this woman boiling in hisveins--passion drunk with contempt; but passion or thirst, as the readerpleases.
D'Artagnan's plan was very simple. By Kitty's chamber he could gain thatof her mistress. He would take advantage of the first moment ofsurprise, shame, and terror, to triumph over her. He might fail, butsomething 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 aprolonged love siege.
"There," said the young man, handing Kitty the letter sealed; "give thatto Milady. It is the count's reply."
Poor Kitty became as pale as death; she suspected what the lettercontained.
"Listen, my dear girl," said d'Artagnan; "you cannot but perceive thatall this must end, some way or other. Milady may discover that you gavethe first billet to my lackey instead of to the count's; that it is Iwho 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 thewoman 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 amgrateful, 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 greatdelusion. Although she cried freely before deciding to transmit theletter to her mistress, she did at last so decide, which was alld'Artagnan wished. Finally he promised that he would leave hermistress's presence at an early hour that evening, and that when he leftthe mistress he would ascend with the maid. This promise completed poorKitty's consolation.
Les trois mousquetaires. English Page 34