Part 166 (1/2)
”That is the crime of which I accuse her; that is the cause for which she was branded”
”Monsieur d'Artagnan,” said Athos, ”what is the penalty you deainst this wonan
”My Lord de Winter,” continued Athos, ”what is the penalty you deainst this woman?”
”The punishment of death,” replied Lord de Winter
”Messieurs Porthos and Araes, what is the sentence you pronounce upon this woman?”
”The punishment of death,” replied the Musketeers, in a hollow voice
Milady uttered a frightful shriek, and dragged herself along several paces upon her knees toward her judges
Athos stretched out his hand toward her
”Charlotte Backson, Comtesse de la Fere, Milady de Winter,” said he, ”your crimes have wearied men on earth and God in heaven If you know a prayer, say it--for you are condemned, and you shall die”
At these words, which left no hope, Milady raised herself in all her pride, and wished to speak; but her strength failed her She felt that a powerful and ied her away as irrevocably as fatality drags humanity She did not, therefore, even attee
Lord de Winter, d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, went out close behind her The lackeys followed their masters, and the chamber was left solitary, with its broken , its open door, and its s sadly on the table
66 EXECUTION
It was near ht; the moon, lessened by its decline, and reddened by the last traces of the storm, arose behind the little town of Arht the dark outline of its houses, and the skeleton of its high belfry In front of them the Lys rolled its waters like a river of molten tin; while on the other side was a black e coppery clouds which created a sort of twilight aht On the left was an old abandoned s, from the ruins of which an owl threw out its shrill, periodical, and ht and on the left of the road, which the dismal procession pursued, appeared a fe, stunted trees, which looked like defor at this sinister hour
Fro opened the horizon in its whole width, darted like a serpent over the black mass of trees, and like a terrible scimitar divided the heavens and the waters into two parts Not a breath of wind now disturbed the heavy atmosphere A deathlike silence oppressed all nature The soil was hu with the rain which had recently fallen, and the refreshed herbs sent forth their perfued Milady, whom each held by one arm The executioner walked behind thenan, Porthos, and Aramis walked behind the executioner Planchet and Bazin came last
The two lackeys conducted Milady to the bank of the river Her mouth was mute; but her eyes spoke with their inexpressible eloquence, supplicating by turns each of those on who a few paces in advance she whispered to the lackeys, ”A thousand pistoles to each of you, if you will assist my escape; but if you deliver ers ill make you pay dearly for my death”
Grimaud hesitated Mousqueton trembled in all his members
Athos, who heard Milady's voice, cae these lackeys,” said he; ”she has spoken to theer sure”
Planchet and Bazin were called, and took the places of Grimaud and Mousqueton
On the bank of the river the executioner approached Milady, and bound her hands and feet
Then she broke the silence to cry out, ”You are cowards, miserable assassins--ten men combined to ed”