CHAPTER XI.
MALADY SEEKS REVENGE.
When D'Artagnan's friends caught up to him, they all agreed that they had seen Madame Bonacieux at the window of the carriage.
Otho said he had also seen a man sitting next to her.
They must be moving her from one hiding place to another, D'Artagnan said.
The kidnappers still have her.
They must have been warning me to stay away.
At least you know that she is still alive, said Athos.
Then Athos reminded D'Artagnan of his second appointment, and the four men hurried across the city to the cardinal's palace.
As they had planned, Athos, Portos, and Eremus waited outside.
When D'Artagnan entered the cardinal's office, the cardinal was sitting at his desk.
He was watching D'Artagnan carefully.
Fultonior worked hard to hide his nervousness.
The cardinal seemed to know everything about him his hometown, his family, his travel to Paris and his adventure to England.
On your return from London, you met with a very important person, the cardinal said.
I see you still wear the jewel that lady gave you.
D'Artagnan tried to hide the ring, but it was too late.
You are a brave man, the cardinal said, but I should warn you that you have powerful enemies.
Be careful, or they will destroy you.
Now tell me, how would you like a promotion?
I am offering to make you a lieutenant in my guards.
But all my friends are musketeers.
D'Artagnan said it has always been my dream to be a musketeer, and I'm finally close to becoming one.
Are you refusing me? the cardinal asked.
Do you think you're too good to be one of my guards?
Not at all, D'Artagnan said carefully, but I haven't proven myself in battle yet.
You wouldn't feel right to consider your offer until I do that.
Very well, the cardinal said, but remember my offer and remember that you turned me down.
D'Artagnan met his friends outside and told them what happened.
They all congratulated him and told him that he had done the right thing.
They agreed to watch out for one another even more carefully from now on.
The cardinal was not to be trusted.
A few days later, the men left for battle.
The duke had kept his word and started a war with France.
The first battle was going to take place in the town of La Rochelle.
As D'Artagnan rode out of the city, he thought about Constance and about the cardinal's words.
He was so distracted that he failed to notice Milady and two men watching him.
She pointed to D'Artagnan, and the men nodded and rode after him.
On the way to Loch Rochella, D'Artagnan travelled with the Cardinal's guards.
During this time, he became separated from the musketeers.
One day, as D'Artagnan was walking ahead of the other soldiers, he heard footsteps coming from the forest.
He looked around and saw two soldiers running at him with their swords drawn.
D'Artagnan fought the two men and quickly injured one of them.
He soon knocked the sword from the other man's hand.
He pressed the point of his own sword to the man's chest.
Speak quickly, D'Artagnan said.
Who hired you to attack me?
A woman, monsieur, the man said.
I don't know her name.
They call her milady.
And what else did she pay you to do?
D'Artagnan asked.
She hired me and my friend to carry off a young woman and to bring her to a convent in Bettine.
Constance, D'Artagnan thought.
D'Artagnan decided not to hurt the young man.
Instead, he insisted that the boy tell him the location of the convent.
In return, D'Artagnan agreed to protect him from a lady who would surely seek revenge.
The boy told D'Artagnan that his name was Brismo, and the two headed back to camp.
A few days later, a letter and a basket of fresh fruit arrived for D'Autrignon.
The letter was from Othos.
It said that he and the other musketeers missed D'Autrignon and had decided to send him this basket as a gift.
D'Autrignon smiled and decided to save the fruit to share with his friends.
The next day the musketeers arrived to surprise D'Artagnan.
Their plans had changed, and they met up with D'Artagnan's group sooner than expected.
D'Artagnan welcomed his friends and thanked Athos for the fruit.
But I didn't send you anything, Athos said.
D'Artagnan and the musketeers hurried back to the camp and found Brismont lying on the ground.
He was very sick.
I ate some of the fruit that was on your table, he said.
It must have been poisoned, D'Augignon said.
Someone faked this letter from Othos and tried to kill me.
It had to be either Milady or the Cardinal, Otho said.
My friends, we can't go on with so many dangers around us.
D'Artagnan must settle this problem with Milady.
You must tell her you will tell the king about her past as a thief if she doesn't leave us alone.
If the king knows this, he will have her arrested.
What of Constance?
D'Artagnan asked.
How do we help her?
It's simple, Portos said.
Brismo told you where she is being held.
Once the battle at La Rochelle is over, we will travel there and rescue her.
