to drive one mad.”
“Stay, stay,” said De Wardes; “look, she calls you, — do
you understand? Profit by the occasion, while your pedagogue
is absent.”
Page 516
Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
De Guiche could not resist; an invincible attraction drew
him towards the princess. De Wardes smiled as he saw him
withdraw.
“You are mistaken, monsieur,” said Raoul, suddenly stepping
across the barrier against which the previous moment the two
friends had been leaning. “The pedagogue is here, and has
overheard you.”
De Wardes, at the sound of Raoul’s voice, which he
recognized without having occasion to look at him, half drew
his sword.
“Put up your sword,” said Raoul, “you know perfectly well
that, until our journey is at an end, every demonstration of
that nature is useless. Why do you distill into the heart of
the man you term your friend all the bitterness that infects
your own? As regards myself, you wish to arouse a feeling of
deep dislike against a man of honor — my father’s friend
and my own: and as for the count you wish him to love one
who is destined for your master. Really, monsieur, I should
regard you as a coward, and a traitor too, if I did not,
with greater justice, regard you as a madman.”
“Monsieur,” exclaimed De Wardes, exasperated, “I was
deceived, I find, in terming you a pedagogue. The tone you
assume, and the style which is peculiarly your own, is that
of a Jesuit, and not of a gentleman. Discontinue, I beg,
whenever I am present, this style I complain of, and the
tone also. I hate M. d’Artagnan because he was guilty of a
cowardly act towards my father.”
“You lie, monsieur,” said Raoul, coolly.
“You give me the lie, monsieur?” exclaimed De Wardes.
“Why not, if what you assert is untrue?”
“You give me the lie and will not draw your sword?”
“I have resolved, monsieur, not to kill you until Madame
shall have been delivered safely into her husband’s hands.”
“Kill me! Believe me, monsieur, your schoolmaster’s rod does
not kill so easily.”
“No,” replied Raoul, sternly, “but M. d’Artagnan’s sword
kills; and, not only do I possess his sword, but he has
himself taught me how to use it: and with that sword, when a
befitting time arrives, I will avenge his name —a name you
have dishonored.”
“Take care, monsieur,” exclaimed De Wardes; “if you do not
immediately give me satisfaction, I will avail myself of
every means to revenge myself.”
“Indeed, monsieur,” said Buckingham, suddenly, appearing
upon the scene of action, “that is a threat which savors of
assassination, and therefore, ill becomes a gentleman.”
“What did you say, my lord?” said De Wardes, turning round
towards him.
Page 517
Dumas, Alexandre – Ten Years Later
“I said, monsieur, that the words you spoken are displeasing
to my English ears.”
“Very well, monsieur, if what you say is true,” exclaimed De
Wardes, thoroughly incensed, “I at least find in you one who
will not escape me. Understand my words as you like.”
“I take them in the manner they cannot but be understood,”
replied Buckingham, with that haughty tone which
characterized him. and which, even in ordinary conversation,
gave a tone of defiance to everything he said; “M. de
Bragelonne is my friend, you insult M. de Bragelonne, and
you shall give me satisfaction for that insult.”
De Wardes cast a look upon De Bragelonne, who, faithful to
the character he had assumed, remained calm and unmoved,
even after the duke’s defiance.
“It would seem that I did not insult M. de Bragelonne, since
M. de Bragelonne, who carries a sword by his side, does not
consider himself insulted.”
“At all events you insult some one.”
“Yes, I insulted M. d’Artagnan,” resumed De Wardes, who had
observed that this was the only means of stinging Raoul, so
as to awaken his anger.
“That then,” said Buckingham, “is another matter.”
“Precisely so,” said De Wardes, “it is the province of M.
d’Artagnan’s friends to defend him.”
“I am entirely of your opinion,” replied the duke, who had
regained all his indifference of manner; “if M. de
Bragelonne were offended, I could not reasonably be expected