Part 135 (1/2)
Milady, reclining in an armchair near the chimney, beautiful, pale, and resigned, looked like a holy virgin awaiting martyrdom.
Felton approached her, and said, ”Lord de Winter, who is a Catholic, like yourself, madame, thinking that the deprivation of the rites and ceremonies of your church might be painful to you, has consented that you should read every day the ordinary of your Ma.s.s; and here is a book which contains the ritual.”
At the manner in which Felton laid the book upon the little table near which Milady was sitting, at the tone in which he p.r.o.nounced the two words, YOUR Ma.s.s, at the disdainful smile with which he accompanied them, Milady raised her head, and looked more attentively at the officer.
By that plain arrangement of the hair, by that costume of extreme simplicity, by the brow polished like marble and as hard and impenetrable, she recognized one of those gloomy Puritans she had so often met, not only in the court of King James, but in that of the King of France, where, in spite of the remembrance of the St. Bartholomew, they sometimes came to seek refuge.
She then had one of those sudden inspirations which only people of genius receive in great crises, in supreme moments which are to decide their fortunes or their lives.
Those two words, YOUR Ma.s.s, and a simple glance cast upon Felton, revealed to her all the importance of the reply she was about to make; but with that rapidity of intelligence which was peculiar to her, this reply, ready arranged, presented itself to her lips:
”I?” said she, with an accent of disdain in unison with that which she had remarked in the voice of the young officer, ”I, sir? MY Ma.s.s? Lord de Winter, the corrupted Catholic, knows very well that I am not of his religion, and this is a snare he wishes to lay for me!”
”And of what religion are you, then, madame?” asked Felton, with an astonishment which in spite of the empire he held over himself he could not entirely conceal.
”I will tell it,” cried Milady, with a feigned exultation, ”on the day when I shall have suffered sufficiently for my faith.”
The look of Felton revealed to Milady the full extent of the s.p.a.ce she had opened for herself by this single word.
The young officer, however, remained mute and motionless; his look alone had spoken.
”I am in the hands of my enemies,” continued she, with that tone of enthusiasm which she knew was familiar to the Puritans. ”Well, let my G.o.d save me, or let me perish for my G.o.d! That is the reply I beg you to make to Lord de Winter. And as to this book,” added she, pointing to the manual with her finger but without touching it, as if she must be contaminated by it, ”you may carry it back and make use of it yourself, for doubtless you are doubly the accomplice of Lord de Winter--the accomplice in his persecutions, the accomplice in his heresies.”
Felton made no reply, took the book with the same appearance of repugnance which he had before manifested, and retired pensively.
Lord de Winter came toward five o'clock in the evening. Milady had had time, during the whole day, to trace her plan of conduct. She received him like a woman who had already recovered all her advantages.
”It appears,” said the baron, seating himself in the armchair opposite that occupied by Milady, and stretching out his legs carelessly upon the hearth, ”it appears we have made a little apostasy!”
”What do you mean, sir!”
”I mean to say that since we last met you have changed your religion.
You have not by chance married a Protestant for a third husband, have you?”
”Explain yourself, my Lord,” replied the prisoner, with majesty; ”for though I hear your words, I declare I do not understand them.”
”Then you have no religion at all; I like that best,” replied Lord de Winter, laughing.
”Certainly that is most in accord with your own principles,” replied Milady, frigidly.
”Oh, I confess it is all the same to me.”
”Oh, you need not avow this religious indifference, my Lord; your debaucheries and crimes would vouch for it.”
”What, you talk of debaucheries, Madame Messalina, Lady Macbeth! Either I misunderstand you or you are very shameless!”
”You only speak thus because you are overheard,” coolly replied Milady; ”and you wish to interest your jailers and your hangmen against me.”
”My jailers and my hangmen! Heyday, madame! you are taking a poetical tone, and the comedy of yesterday turns to a tragedy this evening. As to the rest, in eight days you will be where you ought to be, and my task will be completed.”
”Infamous task! impious task!” cried Milady, with the exultation of a victim who provokes his judge.