Chapter 15 The End of Milady's Plan.
That evening Milady and Constance heard horses galloping on the road.
Milady rushed to the window and was relieved to see her carriage outside.
She told Constance that they had to leave now, before the Cardinal's guards came for them.
I don't know what to do, Constance said.
I can barely move.
I still believe D'Artagnan will come for me.
There's no time, the lady said.
Just then she heard more horses on the road and saw D'Artagnan in the distance.
The lady was terrified.
She took a glass of water and secretly dropped a small red pill into it.
Then she gave the glass to Constance.
The lady wanted her revenge on D'Artagnan one way or another.
Drink this, my lady said.
It will help you relax.
Then we must be going.
As soon as Constance drank it, she began to feel strange.
A wave of dizziness passed over her and she fell to the floor.
When she woke up, she was lying on the ground and D'Artagnan was holding her hand.
Constance, are you all right? he asked.
I feel so sick, she said weakly.
Is that you, D'Artagnan?
I knew you would come to rescue me.
Eramis picked up the water glass and examined it.
He sniffed it carefully and scraped out some of the powder that had settled at the bottom.
Did you drink from this? he asked.
Yes.
She gave it to me, Constance said.
Is she here?
She wanted to help me.
Who?
Athos said.
Lady Cleric, Constance said.
She's another prisoner here.
She was very kind to me.
She wanted to take me to Armentiera.
The musketeers looked at each other and knew at once that my lady had tried to poison her.
The matter was grim, but no one wanted to upset Constance.
Instead, they helped her to bed.
She was very sick.
Suddenly, the musketeers heard a horse galloping toward the convent.
When they ran outside, they saw that the Lord de Winter had arrived.
I'm surprised to see you here, he said.
I've come to find Lady Cleric.
I was holding her prisoner, but she escaped before I could send her away.
She tricked one of my soldiers into helping her.
My soldier, the poor fool, attacked the Duke and injured him badly.
We'll find her together, Arthus said.
We all have reason to be angry with her, although I believe she injured me first.
Leaving Constance in the care of the nuns at the convent, the four musketeers and Lord de Winter rode to the town of Aumontier.
On the way they passed a small port where there were a few boats docked.
Arthus left the group for a short time to talk to some of the men at the docks.
He came back with a mysterious man who didn't say anything to the others.
The group rode toward the inn to capture Milady, each man deep in his own dark thoughts.
The six men approached the inn quietly and looked in the window.
They saw Milady sitting alone at a table.
The lightning flashed and she saw Otto staring at her through the open window.
Then D'Artagnan kicked the door open.
The four musketeers and Lord de Winter entered the room.
What do you want? she cried.
We want to judge you for your crimes, Artho said.
D'Artagnan, you first.
I accuse you of trying to kill me and my friends, D'Artagnan said.
Worst of all, you kidnapped and poisoned my love, Constance Bonacieux.
Then the Lord Winter stepped forward.
I accuse you of causing the attack on the Duke of Buckingham, he said.
It is now my turn, Athos said.
I accuse you of lying to me, marrying me as someone else and then trying to kill me when I discovered the truth.
The mysterious man from the docks entered the room and Athos pointed at Milady.
The man took her and tied her arms behind her back.
Then he blindfold Pierre will take you to his boat, Otto said.
He will make sure you are sent far from here.
You will be at sea for a long time.
Do not try to return to France or England again.
Be thankful you are leaving with your life.
Back in Paris, the four musketeers were having dinner when the man from Mons interrupted them.
We meet at last, D'Artagnan said, drawing his sword.
This time you shall not escape me.
I do not wish to escape, the man said.
In fact, I have come for you.
In the name of the king and the cardinal, I am placing you under arrest.
I must ask that you come with me right now.
Your life is at stake.
Are you?
D'Artagnan asked.
My name is Hufford, he said.
I am an agent of the Cardinal.
I have orders to bring you to him now.
D'Artagnan looked at his friends.
He knew they would fight for him, but he wanted to end his problems with the Cardinal once and for all.
Very well, D'Artagnan said.
I will go with you, but my friends are coming, too.
They will wait for me outside the Cardinal's office.
The Cardinal expected that, Rochfort said.
He will be pleased.
When D'Artagnan entered his office, the Cardinal was sitting at his desk.
D'Artagnan bowed and sat in the chair facing him.
You will... are being charged with a great many crimes, the Cardinal said.
You have helped the Duke of Buckingham, and you have been working to ruin my plans.
In short, you are a traitor.
Who has accused me?
D'Artagnan asked.
Was it a woman named Lady Cleric?
Perhaps you know her as Milady?
That woman is a murderer and an escaped thief.
If she is, you can be sure she will be punished, the Cardinal said.
She has already been punished, D'Artagnan said.
She has been sent away, never to return to France or England.
I have made sure of it.
You have no right to make such decisions, said the Cardinal.
You are not a judge and can be punished for acting as one.
I know, D'Artagnan said. and I will accept your decision.
You are a brave man, the cardinal said.
Do you know that I can have you tried and found guilty?
I understand, said D'Artagnan, but you must understand something, too.
If you try to punish me, I will be pardoned.
Pardoned? the cardinal asked.
Who would pardon your crime, the king?
No, sir, said D'Artagnan.
I have already been pardoned.
By you.
You have lost your mind, the cardinal said.
Surely you will recognize your own handwriting.
D'Artagnan asked handing over the letter that Athos had taken from my lady.
The holder of this letter has been working for me and is to be excused of any crimes.
The cardinal read the letter carefully, then stared at D'Artagnan for a long time.
He's certainly an extraordinary young man, the cardinal thought.
And my lady was a dangerous person to have on my side.
Perhaps it is better that she is gone after all.
The cardinal was lost in his thoughts.
He rolled and unrolled the paper in his hands.
Then he looked at D'Artagnan and saw all the suffering the young man had endured in his adventures.
The cardinal thought D'Artagnan had a bright future ahead of him.
The boy's courage and intelligence would be good to have on his side.
Slowly, the cardinal tore up the letter.
This is the end, D'Artagnan thought, and he bowed to the cardinal.
The cardinal took out another piece of paper and wrote a short note, which he handed to D'Artagnan.
I have taken from you a letter which gave the holder a great gift, the cardinal said.
The king has given me permission to give you another gift.
There is no name on this letter.
You may write it in on your own.
D'Artagnan read the new letter.
It was a promotion.
If D'Artagnan wrote his name on it, he would become a lieutenant in the musketeers.
He fell to one knee.
Sir, my life is yours, D'Artagnan said.
I don't deserve this favor from you.
I have three friends who are all more deserving.
You are a brave and generous lad, the cardinal interrupted.
Do with the letter what you wish, but remember, I gave it to you.
I wish for you to have the promotion.
D'Artagnan returned to his friends and showed them the letter.
He offered it to each of them, but they all refused.
No one deserves it more than you, Artho said.
Then he took the letter and...
