Milady had however achieved a half-triumph, and success doubledher forces.

It was not difficult to conquer, as she had hitherto done, menprompt to let themselves be seduced, and whom the gallanteducation of a court led quickly into her net. Milady washandsome enough not to find much resistance on the part of theflesh, and she was sufficiently skillful to prevail over all theobstacles of the mind.

But this time she had to contend with an unpolished nature,concentrated and insensible by force of austerity. Religion andits observances had made Felton a man inaccessible to ordinaryseductions. There fermented in that sublimated brain plans sovast, projects so tumultuous, that there remained no room for anycapricious or material love - that sentiment which is fed byleisure and grows with corruption. Milady had, then, made abreach by her false virtue in the opinion of a man horriblyprejudiced against her, and by her beauty in the heart of a manhitherto hitherto chaste and pure. In short, she had taken themeasure of motives hitherto unknown to herself, through thisexperiment, made upon the most rebellious subject that nature andreligion could submit to her study.

Many a time, nevertheless, during the evening she despaired offate and of herself. She did not invoke God, we very well know,but she had faith in the genius of evil - that immense sovereigntywhich reigns in all the details of human life, and by which, asin the Arabian fable, a single pomegranate seed is sufficient toreconstruct a ruined world.

Milady, being well prepared for the reception of Felton, was ableto erect her batteries for the next day. She knew she had onlytwo days left; that when once the order was signed by Buckingham--and Buckingham would sign it the more readily from its bearing afalse name, and he could not, therefore, recognize the woman inquestion - once this order was signed, we say, the baron wouldmake her embark immediately, and she knew very well that womencondemned to exile employ arms much less powerful in theirseductions than the pretendedly virtuous woman whose beauty islighted by the sun of the world, whose style the voice of fashionlauds, and whom a halo of aristocracy gilds with enchantingsplendors. To be a woman condemned to a painful and disgracefulpunishment is no impediment to beauty, but it is an obstacle tothe recovery of power. Like all persons of real genius, Miladyknew what suited her nature and her means. Poverty was repugnantto her; degradation took away two-thirds of her greatness.Milady was only a queen while among queens. The pleasure ofsatisfied pride was necessary to her domination. To commandinferior beings was rather a humiliation than a pleasure for her.

She should certainly return from her exile - she did not doubtthat a single instant; but how long might this exile last? Foran active, ambitious nature, like that of Milady, days not spentin climbing are inauspicious days. What word, then, can be foundto describe the days which they occupy in descending? To lose ayear, two years, three years, is to talk of an eternity; toreturn after the death or disgrace of the cardinal, perhaps; toreturn when D'Artagnan and his friends, happy and triumphant,should have received from the queen the reward they had wellacquired by the services they had rendered her - these weredevouring ideas that a woman like Milady could not endure. Forthe rest, the storm which raged within her doubled her strength,and she would have burst the walls of her prison if her body hadbeen able to take for a single instant the proportions of hermind.

Then that which spurred her on additionally in the midst of allthis was the remembrance of the cardinal. What must themistrustful, restless, suspicious cardinal think of her silence - the cardinal, not merely her only support, her only prop, heronly protector at present, but still further, the principalinstrument of her future fortune and vengeance? She knew him;she knew that at her return from a fruitless journey it would bein vain to tell him of her imprisonment, in vain to enlarge uponthe sufferings she had undergone. The cardinal would reply, withthe sarcastic calmness of the skeptic, strong at once by powerand genius, "You should not have allowed yourself to be taken."

Then Milady collected all her energies, murmuring in the depthsof her soul the name of Felton - the only beam of light thatpenetrated to her in the hell into which she had fallen; and likea serpent which folds and unfolds its rings to ascertain itsstrength, she enveloped Felton beforehand in the thousand meshesof her inventive imagination.

Time, however, passed away; the hours, one after another, seemedto awaken the clock as they passed, and every blow of the brasshammer resounded upon the heart of the prisoner. At nineo'clock, Lord de Winter made his customary visit, examined thewindow and the bars, sounded the floor and the walls, looked tothe chimney and the doors, without, during this long and minuteexamination, he or Milady pronouncing a single word.

Doubtless both of them understood that the situation had becometoo serious to lose time in useless words and aimless wrath.

"Well," said the baron, on leaving her "you will not escapetonight!"

At ten o'clock Felton came and placed the sentinel. Miladyrecognized his step. She was as well acquainted with it now as amistress is with that of the lover of her heart; and yet Miladyat the same time detested and despised this weak fanatic.

That was not the appointed hour. Felton did not enter.

Two hours after, as midnight sounded, the sentinel was relieved.This time it WAS the hour, and from this moment Milady waitedwith impatience. The new sentinel commenced his walk in thecorridor. At the expiration of ten minutes Felton came.

Milady was all attention.

"Listen," said the young man to the sentinel. "On no pretenseleave the door, for you know that last night my Lord punished asoldier for having quit his post for an instant, although I,during his absence, watched in his place."

"Yes, I know it," said the soldier.

"I recommend you therefore to keep the strictest watch. For mypart I am going to pay a second visit to this woman, who I fearentertains sinister intentions upon her own life, and I havereceived orders to watch her."

"Good!" murmured Milady; "the austere Puritan lies."

As to the soldier, he only smiled.

"Zounds, Lieutenant!" said he; "you are not unlucky in beingcharged with such commissions, particularly if my Lord hasauthorized you to look into her bed."

Felton blushed. Under any other circumstances he would havereprimanded the soldier for indulging in such pleasantry, but hisconscience murmured too loud for his mouth to dare speak.

"If I call, come," said he. "If anyone comes, call me."

"I will, Lieutenant," said the soldier.

Felton entered Milady's apartment. Milady arose.

"You are here!" said she.

"I promised to come," said Felton, "and I have come."

"You promised me something else."

"What, my God!" said the young man, who in spite of his self-command felt his knees tremble and the sweat start from his brow.

"You promised to bring a knife, and to leave it with me after ourinterview."

"Say no more of that, madame," said Felton. "There is nosituation, however terrible it may be, which can authorize acreature of God to inflict death upon himself. I have reflected,and I cannot, must not be guilty of such a sin."

"Ah, you have reflected!" said the prisoner, sitting down in herarmchair, with a smile of disdain; "and I also have reflected."

"Upon what?"

"That I can have nothing to say to a man who does not keep hisword."

"Oh, my God!" murmured Felton.

"You may retire," said Milady. "I will not talk."

"Here is the knife," said Felton, drawing from his pocket theweapon which he had brought, according to his promise, but whichhe hesitated to give to his prisoner.

"Let me see it," said Milady.

"For what purpose?"

"Upon my honor, I will instantly return it to you. You shallplace it on that table, and you may remain between it and me."

Felton offered the weapon to Milady, who examined the temper ofit attentively, and who tried the point on the tip of her finger.

"Well," said she, returning the knife to the young officer, "thisis fine and good steel. You are a faithful friend, Felton."

Felton took back the weapon, and laid it upon the table, as hehad agreed with the prisoner.

Milady followed him with her eyes, and made a gesture ofsatisfaction.

"Now," said she, "listen to me."

The request was needless. The young officer stood upright beforeher, awaiting her words as if to devour them.

"Felton," said Milady, with a solemnity full of melancholy,"imagine that your sister, the daughter of your father, speaks toyou. While yet young, unfortunately handsome, I was dragged intoa snare. I resisted. Ambushes and violences multiplied aroundme, but I resisted. The religion I serve, the God I adore, wereblasphemed because I called upon that religion and that God, butstill I resisted. Then outrages were heaped upon me, and as mysoul was not subdued they wished to defile my body forever.Finally - "

Milady stopped, and a bitter smile passed over her lips.

"Finally," said Felton, "finally, what did they do?"

"At length, one evening my enemy resolved to paralyze theresistance he could not conquer. One evening he mixed a powerfulnarcotic with my water. Scarcely had I finished my repast, whenI felt myself sink by degrees into a strange torpor. Although Iwas without mistrust, a vague fear seized me, and I tried tostruggle against sleepiness. I arose. I wished to run to thewindow and call for help, but my legs refused their office. Itappeared as if the ceiling sank upon my head and crushed me withits weight. I stretched out my arms. I tried to speak. I couldonly utter inarticulate sounds, and irresistible faintness cameover me. I supported myself by a chair, feeling that I was aboutto fall, but this support was soon insufficient on account of myweak arms. I fell upon one knee, then upon both. I tried topray, but my tongue was frozen. God doubtless neither heard norsaw me, and I sank upon the floor a prey to a slumber whichresembled death.

"Of all that passed in that sleep, or the time which glided awaywhile it lasted, I have no remembrance. The only thing Irecollect is that I awoke in bed in a round chamber, thefurniture of which was sumptuous, and into which light onlypenetrated by an opening in the ceiling. No door gave entranceto the room. It might be called a magnificent prison.

"It was a long time before I was able to make out what place Iwas in, or to take account of the details I describe. My mindappeared to strive in vain to shake off the heavy darkness of thesleep from which I could not rouse myself. I had vagueperceptions of space traversed, of the rolling of a carriage, ofa horrible dream in which my strength had become exhausted; butall this was so dark and so indistinct in my mind that theseevents seemed to belong to another life than mine, and yet mixedwith mine in fantastic duality.

"At times the state into which I had fallen appeared so strangethat I believed myself dreaming. I arose trembling. My clotheswere near me on a chair; I neither remembered having undressedmyself nor going to bed. Then by degrees the reality broke uponme, full of chaste terrors. I was no longer in the house where Ihad dwelt. As well as I could judge by the light of the sun, theday was already two-thirds gone. It was the evening before whenI had fallen asleep; my sleep, then, must have lasted twenty-fourhours! What had taken place during this long sleep?

"I dressed myself as quickly as possible; my slow and stiffmotions all attested that the effects of the narcotic were notyet entirely dissipated. The chamber was evidently furnished forthe reception of a woman; and the most finished coquette couldnot have formed a wish, but on casting her eyes about theapartment, she would have found that wish accomplished.

"Certainly I was not the first captive that had been shut up inthis splendid prison; but you may easily comprehend, Felton, thatthe more superb the prison, the greater was my terror.

"Yes, it was a prison, for I tried in vain to get out of it. Isounded all the walls, in the hopes of discovering a door, buteverywhere the walls returned a full and flat sound.

"I made the tour of the room at least twenty times, in search ofan outlet of some kind; but there was none. I sank exhaustedwith fatigue and terror into an armchair.

"Meantime, night came on rapidly, and with night my terrorsincreased. I did not know but I had better remain where I wasseated. It appeared that I was surrounded with unknown dangersinto which I was about to fall at every instant. Although I hadeaten nothing since the evening before, my fears prevented myfeeling hunger.

"No noise from without by which I could measure the time reachedme; I only supposed it must be seven or eight o'clock in theevening, for it was in the month of October and it was quitedark.

"All at once the noise of a door, turning on its hinges, made mestart. A globe of fire appeared above the glazed opening of theceiling, casting a strong light into my chamber; and I perceivedwith terror that a man was standing within a few paces of me.

"A table, with two covers, bearing a supper ready prepared,stood, as if by magic, in the middle of the apartment.

"That man was he who had pursued me during a whole year, who hadvowed my dishonor, and who, by the first words that issued fromhis mouth, gave me to understand he had accomplished it thepreceding night."

"Scoundrel!" murmured Felton.

"Oh, yes, scoundrel!" cried Milady, seeing the interest which theyoung officer, whose soul seemed to hang on her lips, took inthis strange recital. "Oh, yes, scoundrel! He believed, havingtriumphed over me in my sleep, that all was completed. He came,hoping that I would accept my shame, as my shame was consummated;he came to offer his fortune in exchange for my love.

"All that the heart of a woman could contain of haughty contemptand disdainful words, I poured out upon this man. Doubtless hewas accustomed to such reproaches, for he listened to me calm andsmiling, with his arms crossed over his breast. Then, when hethought I had said all, he advanced toward me; I sprang towardthe table, I seized a knife, I placed it to my breast.

"Take one step more," said I, "and in addition to my dishonor,you shall have my death to reproach yourself with."

"There was, no doubt, in my look, my voice, my whole person, thatsincerity of gesture, of attitude, of accent, which carriesconviction to the most perverse minds, for he paused.

"'Your death?' said he; 'oh, no, you are too charming a mistressto allow me to consent to lose you thus, after I have had thehappiness to possess you only a single time. Adieu, my charmer;I will wait to pay you my next visit till you are in a betterhumor.'

"At these words he blew a whistle; the globe of fire whichlighted the room reascended and disappeared. I found myselfagain in complete darkness. The same noise of a door opening andshutting was repeated the instant afterward; the flaming globedescended afresh, and I was completely alone.

"This moment was frightful; if I had any doubts as to mymisfortune, these doubts had vanished in an overwhelming reality.I was in the power of a man whom I not only detested, butdespised - of a man capable of anything, and who had already givenme a fatal proof of what he was able to do."

"But who, then was this man?" asked Felton.

"I passed the night on a chair, starting at the least noise, fortoward midnight the lamp went out, and I was again in darkness.But the night passed away without any fresh attempt on the partof my persecutor. Day came; the table had disappeared, only Ihad still the knife in my hand.

"This knife was my only hope.

"I was worn out with fatigue. Sleeplessness inflamed my eyes; Ihad not dared to sleep a single instant. The light of dayreassured me; I went and threw myself on the bed, without partingwith the emancipating knife, which I concealed under my pillow.

"When I awoke, a fresh meal was served.

"This time, in spite of my terrors, in spite of my agony, I beganto feel a devouring hunger. It was forty-eight hours since I hadtaken any nourishment. I ate some bread and some fruit; then,remembering the narcotic mixed with the water I had drunk, Iwould not touch that which was placed on the table, but filled myglass at a marble fountain fixed in the wall over my dressingtable.

"And yet, notwithstanding these precautions, I remained for sometime in a terrible agitation of mind. But my fears were thistime ill-founded; I passed the day without experiencing anythingof the kind I dreaded.

"I took the precaution to half empty the carafe, in order that mysuspicions might not be noticed.

"The evening came on, and with it darkness; but however profoundwas this darkness, my eyes began to accustom themselves to it. Isaw, amid the shadows, the table sink through the floor; aquarter of an hour later it reappeared, bearing my supper. In aninstant, thanks to the lamp, my chamber was once more lighted.

"I was determined to eat only such things as could not possiblyhave anything soporific introduced into them. Two eggs and somefruit composed my repast; then I drew another glass of water frommy protecting fountain, and drank it.

"At the first swallow, it appeared to me not to have the sametaste as in the morning. Suspicion instantly seized me. Ipaused, but I had already drunk half a glass.

"I threw the rest away with horror, and waited, with the dew offear upon my brow.

"No doubt some invisible witness had seen me draw the water fromthat fountain, and had taken advantage of my confidence in it,the better to assure my ruin, so coolly resolved upon, so cruellypursued.

"Half an hour had not passed when the same symptoms began toappear; but as I had only drunk half a glass of the water, Icontended longer, and instead of falling entirely asleep, I sankinto a state of drowsiness which left me a perception of what waspassing around me, while depriving me of the strength either todefend myself or to fly.

"I dragged myself toward the bed, to seek the only defense I hadleft - my saving knife; but I could not reach the bolster. I sankon my knees, my hands clasped round one of the bedposts; then Ifelt that I was lost."

Felton became frightfully pale, and a convulsive tremor creptthrough his whole body.

"And what was most frightful," continued Milady, her voicealtered, as if she still experienced the same agony as at thatawful minute, "was that at this time I retained a consciousnessof the danger that threatened me; was that my soul, if I may sayso, waked in my sleeping body; was that I saw, that I heard. Itis true that all was like a dream, but it was not the lessfrightful.

"I saw the lamp ascend, and leave me in darkness; then I heardthe well-known creaking of the door although I had heard thatdoor open but twice.

"I felt instinctively that someone approached me; it is said thatthe doomed wretch in the deserts of America thus feels theapproach of the serpent.

"I wished to make an effort; I attempted to cry out. By anincredible effort of will I even raised myself up, but only tosink down again immediately, and to fall into the arms of mypersecutor."

"Tell me who this man was!" cried the young officer.

Milady saw at a single glance all the painful feelings sheinspired in Felton by dwelling on every detail of her recital;but she would not spare him a single pang. The more profoundlyshe wounded his heart, the more certainly he would avenge her.She continued, then, as if she had not heard his exclamation, oras if she thought the moment was not yet come to reply to it.

"Only this time it was no longer an inert body, without feeling,that the villain had to deal with. I have told you that withoutbeing able to regain the complete exercise of my faculties, Iretained the sense of my danger. I struggled, then, with all mystrength, and doubtless opposed, weak as I was, a longresistance, for I heard him cry out, 'These miserable Puritans!I knew very well that they tired out their executioners, but Idid not believe them so strong against their lovers!'

"Alas! this desperate resistance could not last long. I felt mystrength fail, and this time it was not my sleep that enabled thecoward to prevail, but my swoon."

Felton listened without uttering any word or sound, except aninward expression of agony. The sweat streamed down his marbleforehead, and his hand, under his coat, tore his breast.

"My first impulse, on coming to myself, was to feel under mypillow for the knife I had not been able to reach; if it had notbeen useful for defense, it might at least serve for expiation.

"But on taking this knife, Felton, a terrible idea occurred tome. I have sworn to tell you all, and I will tell you all. Ihave promised you the truth; I will tell it, were it to destroyme."

"The idea came into your mind to avenge yourself on this man, didit not?" cried Felton.

"Yes," said Milady. "The idea was not that of a Christian, Iknew; but without doubt, that eternal enemy of our souls, thatlion roaring constantly around us, breathed it into my mind. Inshort, what shall I say to you, Felton?" continued Milady, in thetone of a woman accusing herself of a crime. "This idea occurredto me, and did not leave me; it is of this homicidal thought thatI now bear the punishment."

"Continue, continue!" said Felton; "I am eager to see you attainyour vengeance!"

"Oh, I resolved that it should take place as soon as possible. Ihad no doubt he would return the following night. During the dayI had nothing to fear.

"When the hour of breakfast came, therefore, I did not hesitateto eat and drink. I had determined to make believe sup, but toeat nothing. I was forced, then, to combat the fast of theevening with the nourishment of the morning.

"Only I concealed a glass of water, which remained after mybreakfast, thirst having been the chief of my sufferings when Iremained forty-eight hours without eating or drinking.

"The day passed away without having any other influence on methan to strengthen the resolution I had formed; only I took carethat my face should not betray the thoughts of my heart, for Ihad no doubt I was watched. Several times, even, I felt a smileon my lips. Felton, I dare not tell you at what idea I smiled;you would hold me in horror - "

"Go on! go on!" said Felton; "you see plainly that I listen, andthat I am anxious to know the end."

"Evening came; the ordinary events took place. During thedarkness, as before, my supper was brought. Then the lamp waslighted, and I sat down to table. I only ate some fruit. Ipretended to pour out water from the jug, but I only drank thatwhich I had saved in my glass. The substitution was made socarefully that my spies, if I had any, could have no suspicion ofit.

"After supper I exhibited the same marks of languor as on thepreceding evening; but this time, as I yielded to fatigue, or asif I had become familiarized with danger, I dragged myself towardmy bed, let my robe fall, and lay down.

"I found my knife where I had placed it, under my pillow, andwhile feigning to sleep, my hand grasped the handle of itconvulsively.

"Two hours passed away without anything fresh happening. Oh, myGod! who could have said so the evening before? I began to fearthat he would not come.

"At length I saw the lamp rise softly, and disappear in thedepths of the ceiling; my chamber was filled with darkness andobscurity, but I made a strong effort to penetrate this darknessand obscurity.

"Nearly ten minutes passed; I heard no other noise but thebeating of my own heart. I implored heaven that he might come.

"At length I heard the well-known noise of the door, which openedand shut; I heard, notwithstanding the thickness of the carpet, astep which made the floor creak; I saw, notwithstanding thedarkness, a shadow which approached my bed."

"Haste! haste!" said Felton; "do you not see that each of yourwords burns me like molten lead?"

"Then," continued Milady, "then I collected all my strength; Irecalled to my mind that the moment of vengeance, or rather, ofjustice, had struck. I looked upon myself as another Judith; Igathered myself up, my knife in my hand, and when I saw him nearme, stretching out his arms to find his victim, then, with thelast cry of agony and despair, I struck him in the middle of hisbreast.

"The miserable villain! He had foreseen all. His breast wascovered with a coat-of-mail; the knife was bent against it.

"'Ah, ah!' cried he, seizing my arm, and wresting from me theweapon that had so badly served me, 'you want to take my life, doyou, my pretty Puritan? But that's more than dislike, that'singratitude! Come, come, calm yourself, my sweet girl! Ithought you had softened. I am not one of those tyrants whodetain women by force. You don't love me. With my usual fatuityI doubted it; now I am convinced. Tomorrow you shall be free.'

"I had but one wish; that was that he should kill me.

"'Beware!' said I, 'for my liberty is your dishonor.'

"'Explain yourself, my pretty sibyl!'

"'Yes; for as soon as I leave this place I will tell everything.I will proclaim the violence you have used toward me. I willdescribe my captivity. I will denounce this place of infamy.You are placed on high, my Lord, but tremble! Above you there isthe king; above the king there is God!'

"However perfect master he was over himself, my persecutorallowed a movement of anger to escape him. I could not see theexpression of his countenance, but I felt the arm tremble uponwhich my hand was placed.

"'Then you shall not leave this place,' said he.

"'Very well,' cried I, 'then the place of my punishment will bethat of my tomb. I will die here, and you will see if a phantomthat accuses is not more terrible than a living being thatthreatens!'

"'You shall have no weapon left in your power.'

"'There is a weapon which despair has placed within the reach ofevery creature who has the courage to use it. I will allowmyself to die with hunger.'

"'Come,' said the wretch, 'is not peace much better than such awar as that? I will restore you to liberty this moment; I willproclaim you a piece of immaculate virtue; I will name you theLucretia of England.'

"'And I will say that you are the Sextus. I will denounce youbefore men, as I have denounced you before God; and if it benecessary that, like Lucretia, I should sign my accusation withmy blood, I will sign it.'

"'Ah!' said my enemy, in a jeering tone, 'that's quite anotherthing. My faith! everything considered, you are very well offhere. You shall want for nothing, and if you let yourself die ofhunger that will be your own fault.'

"At these words he retired. I heard the door open and shut, andI remained overwhelmed, less, I confess it, by my grief than bythe mortification of not having avenged myself.

"He kept his word. All the day, all the next night passed awaywithout my seeing him again. But I also kept my word with him,and I neither ate nor drank. I was, as I told him, resolved todie of hunger.

"I passed the day and the night in prayer, for I hoped that Godwould pardon me my suicide.

"The second night the door opened; I was lying on the floor, formy strength began to abandon me.

"At the noise I raised myself up on one hand.

"'Well,' said a voice which vibrated in too terrible a manner inmy ear not to be recognized, 'well! Are we softened a little?Will we not pay for our liberty with a single promise of silence?Come, I am a good sort of a prince,' added he, 'and although Ilike not Puritans I do them justice; and it is the same withPuritanesses, when they are pretty. Come, take a little oath forme on the cross; I won't ask anything more of you.'

"'On the cross,' cried I, rising, for at that abhorred voice Ihad recovered all my strength, 'on the cross I swear that nopromise, no menace, no force, no torture, shall close my mouth!On the cross I swear to denounce you everywhere as a murderer, asa thief of honor, as a base coward! On the cross I swear, if Iever leave this place, to call down vengeance upon you from thewhole human race!'

"'Beware!' said the voice, in a threatening accent that I hadnever yet heard. 'I have an extraordinary means which I will notemploy but in the last extremity to close your mouth, or at leastto prevent anyone from believing a word you may utter.'

"I mustered all my strength to reply to him with a burst oflaughter.

"He saw that it was a merciless war between us - a war to thedeath.

"'Listen!' said he. 'I give you the rest of tonight and all daytomorrow. Reflect: promise to be silent, and riches,consideration, even honor, shall surround you; threaten to speak,and I will condemn you to infamy.'

"'You?' cried I. 'You?'

"'To interminable, ineffaceable infamy!'

"'You?' repeated I. Oh, I declare to you, Felton, I thought himmad!

"'Yes, yes, I!' replied he.

"'Oh, leave me!' said I. 'Begone, if you do not desire to see medash my head against that wall before your eyes!'

"'Very well, it is your own doing. Till tomorrow evening, then!'

"'Till tomorrow evening, then!' replied I, allowing myself tofall, and biting the carpet with rage."

Felton leaned for support upon a piece of furniture; and Miladysaw, with the joy of a demon, that his strength would fail himperhaps before the end of her recital.