Bonacieux would run of meeting at theconvent of
Bethune with Milady, her mortal enemy. At the expiration of an hour, Felton tapped
again. We are alone, sir, said Buckingham; speak!
Milady breathed a sigh, and opened her eyes. At
that moment Patrick entered the room, crying, A letter from France,my
Lord.
Buckingham looked at the young man
haughtily.
This was a terrible moment for thefugitives. The
lackeys were sent on before with the baggage,and they set out on the morning of the
sixteenth.
Felton lowered his head without pronouncing a
syllable.
Remain,then, where you are, and do not exhaust
yourselves with useless fatigue.
Ihave not tried to discover her other name. Felton
and he addressed Patrick, the dukes confidential lackey, at thesame
moment.
And you would be quite wrong, my dear de Winter,
said Buckingham,holding out his hand to him. This confirmed Milady in her opinion
that the abbess was rather royalistthan cardinalist.
Yes, sir; and I answered him, to bring or send me
that order and Iwould sign it. Theabbess assigned her a chamber, and had breakfast
served. That is because I am not his friend, said she, sighing, but
hisvictim!
Accordingly, that same evening Milady commenced her
journey.
One thing alone, however, threw a shade over the
pallid brow of Felton. The lackeys were sent on before with the baggage,and they set
out on the morning of the sixteenth. Myself and Planchet are all that such a simple
expedition requires.
How could I know what I was the bearer of? What do
you find so astonishing in that language? The four men bent to their oars, but the
sea was too high to letthem get much hold of it.
Ah, traitor, cried Buckingham, you have killed
me!
But the abbess contented herself with listening and
smiling withoutreplying a word.
She hadsucceeded; dArtagnan was then in her power!
She then went on to describe the persecutions exercised by the cardinalupon his
enemies.
My Lord, continued Felton, becoming more excited as
he spoke, myLord, beware! Milady looked around her, as if in search of something.
There only remained in the closet of the wounded duke Laporte
andPatrick.
She hadsucceeded; dArtagnan was then in her
power!
You have seduced this younggirl; you have outraged,
defiled her.
Be satisfied, replied Felton; he will not sail.
Withdraw, sir, said Buckingham, or I will call my attendant, and haveyou placed in
irons.
The abbess listened more attentively, grew animated
by degrees, andsmiled. After breakfast, the abbess came to pay her a visit.