Chapter 10 Lord de Winter and Lady Cleric.
The next morning Dr Nyon couldn't find their new horses anywhere.
This is a little embarrassing, Arthur said.
You see, after you went to bed, I stayed up and talked with some travelers who arrived late.
I didn't pay attention, and it seems those men stole our horses.
I'm sorry, my friend.
And so D'Artagnan and Athos were left to ride their assistance horses while those two men walked.
Later, when they met up with Aramis and Porthos, they learned that the two musketeers had also lost their horses.
Porthos had sold his to pay for the extra expenses at the end, and Aramis had fallen prey to some traveling thieves.
"'You are truly great musketeers,' said D'Artagnan, laughing.
"'And yet none of you could hold on to a good horse.'
When the musketeers arrived in Paris a few days later and reported to Monsieur d'Etreville, D'Artagnan learned that he had been granted permission to leave the cardinal's service and become a musketeer.
He needed to fight only one more battle.
At last, his dream would come true.
He and his friends celebrated that night.
But their happiness was interrupted with the news that the king planned to send them into battle soon.
That meant they would need good horses and equipment.
None of them had any money for this, and they stared at each other glumly.
There is one thing, Otto said at last.
None of you has mentioned that priceless diamond that sparkles whenever D'Artagnan raises his hand.
This was a gift from the queen, D'Artagnan said.
But he knew he had no choice.
Now that he was to become a musketeer, he would need equipment for battle, and all four friends had promised to look out for one another.
One day, soon after, as D'Artagnan was walking past a church, he saw Porthos speaking quietly to a woman.
D'Artagnan realized that this must be the duchess Porthos has spoken of so often.
The innkeeper had been right.
She was not nearly as beautiful or young as Porthos claimed.
Then D'Artagnan realized that sitting near them was the woman he had seen, the man from the Mons speaking to that first day at the inn.
The spy named Milady.
He followed her to her carriage.
He knew she was working with the man from Mons, the man who had kidnapped Madame Bonacieux.
Perhaps Milady could lead D'Artagnan to his love.
After a journey across the city.
The carriage stopped and she leaned out of the window to speak to a man.
D'Artagnan rode to the other side of the carriage and looked in.
The man she was speaking to saw D'Artagnan and yelled, It's you!
Hello again, D'Artagnan said surprised.
This was the same man D'Artagnan had fought in Calais.
D'Artagnan had stolen his letter of permission in order to take the ship to London.
As soon as Milady saw D'Artagnan, she closed the curtain of her carriage window and told her driver to take her home at once.
Goodbye, sister, said the man as she drove away.
And what is your name?
D'Artagnan asked.
I am Lord de Winter, the man said.
You attacked me and stole my letter.
You shall not defeat me a second time.
When shall we fight?
D'Artagnan asked.
They agreed on a time and place, and D'Artagnan left to tell his friends.
At three o'clock, the four men met with Lord de Winter and his three friends.
The groups of men did not like one another, and soon all eight men began to duel.
It didn't last very long.
Soon only D'Artagnan and Lord Winter were still fighting.
Finally, D'Artagnan knocked the sword out of Lord de Winter's hand.
I could hurt you, D'Artagnan said, thinking of a plan.
But I know you have a sister, and I wouldn't want to upset her.
Lord de Winter appreciated D'Artagnan's kindness and invited him to dinner that night.
He told D'Artagnan he could meet his sister, whose name was Lady Cleric.
She's actually my sister-in-law, Lord de Winter said.
She married my brother, the poor lad who died a few months ago.
When D'Autrignon arrived at Lord de Winter's house, Milady thanked him for not hurting her brother-in-law, and D'Autrignon's plan became clearer.
He would try to become friends with her and convince her that he loved her.
Perhaps then he could learn more about what had happened to Constant.
He returned to visit Milady the next day and the next and the next again.
Each time she seemed a little friendlier and a little happier to see him again.
Slowly, D'Artagnan began to convince Milady that he was in love with her.
He went to see her many times, but he was never able to learn any of her secrets.
Although Milady wouldn't discuss her work, she did give D'Artagnan one of her favorite pieces of jewelry to show how much she liked him a gold ring with a large sapphire.
When D'Artagnan described his situation to Athos, his friend grabbed his arm.
Let me see that ring, Otho said.
His face was red with anger, and he held D'Artagnan's arm tightly.
It couldn't be the same, Otho said, but it is.
It's scratched here.
I remember this mark.
I used to own this ring.
My mother gave it to me.
Her mother gave it to her.
It was meant to be handed down through the generations of my family.
And you sold it?
D'Artagnan asked nervously.
No, Otho said with a strange smile.
I gave it to the woman I loved, your m'lady, or Lady Cleric, or whatever her new name is.
She is the same woman I loved.
The story I told you was not about my friend.
It happened to me.
D'Artagnan, you are like a brother to me, and I must warn you, stay away from this woman.
D'Artagnan stopped visiting Milady at once.
After a few days she sent him a letter.
She was worried that he had been hurt.
D'Artagnan decided to confront her one more time.
At last, you're here, she said when he entered her room.
I thought I might have scared you away.
Not exactly he said.
But you see, I must tell you the truth and I hope you will do the same for me.
One of my closest friends, perhaps the closest of all, is someone you know.
He recognized the ring you gave me.
Milady sat down.
Her skin was pale.
I know you are a spy for the Cardinal, he said.
I know you are involved in the kidnapping of Constant Bonnetier, the woman I truly love, and I know you are a thief.
D'Artagnan was about to ask her about Constance, but he didn't get the chance.
Milady jumped from her chair and ran at him with a dagger.
At first, he was too surprised to move.
Then, treating it as a duel, he sidestepped and avoided her attacks.
"'You beast!' she screamed.
D'Artagnan slowly worked his way toward the door.
Milady threw furniture over in her efforts to reach him, but D'Artagnan used the furniture to block her way.
The door was open just a little.
When D'Artagnan got close, he sprang at it and shut the bolts behind him.
Milady tried to force the door open.
When she couldn't, she stabbed the dagger at the door.
D'Artagnan fled down the stairs and into the street.
The next day he told Athos what had happened.
Oh, you must take extra care, my friend, said Athos.
She is dangerous enough on her own, but the Cardinal is also angry with us.
Well, now, you can have your family heirloom back, said D'Antonio.
I want you to sell it, Athos said.
It has bad memories for me.
Besides, with the money you get, we will have enough for our equipment.
Just then, Poincet arrived with two letters.
The first gave directions to a deserted part of the city.
Beneath the directions was a brief note.
Be in this location at seven o'clock tonight and look carefully into the carriages as they pass.
If you care for the woman who loves you, you must say nothing and allow the carriage to pass without trying to follow it.
She is risking everything so she can see you for a moment.
Athos and D'Artagnan showed the note to the other musketeers, who warned D'Artagnan that it might be a trick.
D'Artagnan told his friends that he must go see Constant, so all four friends decided to go.
Athos, Portos, Aramis would hide and watch D'Artagnan to make sure nothing happened to him.
Then Athos reminded him of the second letter.
D'Artagnan opened it and found an official order to meet with the cardinal at eight o'clock that night.
This appointment is more serious than the first, Otho said.
The cardinal might have some kind of trick in mind for you.
The three musketeers agreed to wait outside the cardinal's palace.
If they saw D'Artagnan get arrested, they would fight to free him.
That night, the four men went to the place mentioned in the first letter.
Just as the night was falling, a carriage appeared, speeding down the road.
D'Artagnan felt his heart beating faster.
Suddenly, a woman's face appeared at the carriage window.
She held two fingers to her lips, as if telling him to be quiet, or as if sending him a kiss.
The carriage passed quickly, but D'Artagnan was sure he had seen Constant.
Even though he had been warned not to follow, D'Artagnan spurred his horse into a gallop.
He couldn't catch up to the carriage, though, and was forced to watch it speed away.
