"I can well understand that, monsieur, for the action itself needed repentance; but you were not the less the cause of that lady's disgrace.She, of whom you have been speaking, covered with shame, borne down by the affront you brought upon her, fled, quitted France, and no one ever knew what became of her.""Stay," said the Comte de la Fere, stretching his hand towards De Wardes, with a peculiar smile upon his face, "you are mistaken; she was seen; and there are persons even now present, who, having often heard her spoken of, will easily recognize her by the description I am about to give.She was about five-and-twenty years of age, slender in form, of a pale complexion, and fair-haired; she was married in England.""Married?" exclaimed De Wardes.
"So, you were not aware she was married? You see we are far better informed than yourself.Do you happen to know she was usually styled `My Lady,' without the addition of any name to that description?""Yes, I know that."
"Good Heavens!" murmured Buckingham.
"Very well, monsieur.That woman, who came from England, returned to England after having thrice attempted M.
d'Artagnan's life.That was but just, you will say, since M.
d'Artagnan had insulted her.But that which was not just was, that, when in England, this woman, by her seductions, completely enslaved a young man in the service of Lord de Winter, by name Felton.You change color, my lord," said Athos turning to the Duke of Buckingham, "and your eyes kindle with anger and sorrow.Let your Grace finish the recital, then, and tell M.de Wardes who this woman was who placed the knife in the hand of your father's murderer."A cry escaped from the lips of all present.The young duke passed his handkerchief across his forehead, which was covered with perspiration.A dead silence ensued among the spectators.
"You see, M.de Wardes," said D'Artagnan, whom this recital had impressed more and more, as his own recollection revived as Athos spoke, "you see that my crime did not cause the destruction of any one's soul, and that the soul in question may fairly be considered to have been altogether lost before my regret.It is, however, an act of conscience on my part.
Now this matter is settled, therefore, it remains for me to ask with the greatest humility, your forgiveness for this shameless action, as most certainly I should have asked it of your father, if he were still alive, and if I had met him after my return to France, subsequent to the death of King Charles I.""That is too much, M.d'Artagnan," exclaimed many voices, with animation.
"No, gentlemen," said the captain."And now, M.de Wardes, Ihope all is finished between us, and that you will have no further occasion to speak ill of me again.Do you consider it completely settled?"De Wardes bowed, and muttered to himself inarticulately.
"I trust also," said D'Artagnan, approaching the young man closely, "that you will no longer speak ill of any one, as it seems you have the unfortunate habit of doing; for a man so puritanically conscientious as you are, who can reproach an old soldier for a youthful freak five-and-thirty years after it happened, will allow me to ask whether you who advocate such excessive purity of conscience, will undertake on your side to do nothing contrary either to conscience or the principle of honor.And now, listen attentively to what I am going to say, M.de Wardes, in conclusion.Take care that no tale, with which your name may be associated, reaches my ear.""Monsieur," said De Wardes, "it is useless threatening to no purpose.""I have not yet finished, M.de Wardes, and you must listen to me still further." The circle of listeners, full of eager curiosity, drew closer."You spoke just now of the honor of a woman, and of the honor of your father.We were glad to hear you speak in that manner; for it is pleasing to think that such a sentiment of delicacy and rectitude, and which did not exist, it seems, in our minds, lives in our children; and it is delightful too, to see a young man, at an age when men from habit become the destroyers of the honor of women, respect and defend it."De Wardes bit his lips and clenched his hands, evidently much disturbed to learn how this discourse, the commencement of which was announced in so threatening a manner, would terminate.
"How did it happen, then, that you allowed yourself to say to M.de Bragelonne that he did not know who his mother was?"Raoul's eye flashed, as, darting forward, he exclaimed, --"Chevalier, this is a personal affair of my own!" At which exclamation, a smile, full of malice, passed across De Wardes's face.
D'Artagnan put Raoul aside, saying, -- "Do not interrupt me, young man." And looking at De Wardes in an authoritative manner, he continued: -- "I am now dealing with a matter which cannot be settled by means of the sword.I discuss it before men of honor, all of whom have more than once had their swords in their hands in affairs of honor.I selected them expressly.These gentlemen well know that every secret for which men fight ceases to be a secret.I again put my question to M.de Wardes.What was the subject of conversation when you offended this young man, in offending his father and mother at the same time?""It seems to me," returned De Wardes, "that liberty of speech is allowed, when it is supported by every means which a man of courage has at his disposal.""Tell me what the means are by which a man of courage can sustain a slanderous expression.""The sword."
"You fail, not only in logic, in your argument, but in religion and honor.You expose the lives of many others, without referring to your own, which seems to be full of hazard.Besides, fashions pass away, monsieur, and the fashion of duelling has passed away, without referring in any way to the edicts of his majesty which forbid it.