nd endeavoring, if
possible, to fathom those of this woman.

What was most clear in the matter was that d'Artagnan loved Milady like
a madman, and that she did not love him at all. In an instant d'Artagnan
perceived that the best way in which he could act would be to go home
and write Milady a long letter, in which he would confess to her that
he and de Wardes were, up to the present moment absolutely the same, and
that consequently he could not undertake, without committing suicide,
to kill the Comte de Wardes. But he also was spurred on by a ferocious
desire of vengeance. He wished to subdue this woman in his own name; and
as this vengeance appeared to him to have a certain sweetness in it, he
could not make up his mind to renounce it.

He walked six or seven times round the Place Royale, turning at every
ten steps to look at the light in Milady's apartment, which was to be
seen through the blinds. It was evident that this time the young woman
was not in such haste to retire to her apartment as she had been the
first.

At length the light disappeared. With this light was extinguished the
last irresolution in the heart of d'Artagnan. He recalled to his mind
the details of the first night, and with a beating heart and a brain on
fire he re-entered the hotel and flew toward Kitty's chamber.

The poor girl, pale as death and trembling in all her limbs, wished to
delay her lover; but Milady, with her ear on the watch, had heard the
noise d'Artagnan had made, and opening the door, said, "Come in."

All this was of such incredible immodesty, of such monstrous effrontery,
that d'Artagnan could scarcely believe what he saw or what he heard. He
imagined himself to be drawn into one of those fantastic intrigues one
meets in dreams. He, however, darted not the less quickly toward Milady,
yielding to that magnetic attraction which the loadstone exercises over
iron.

As the door closed after them Kitty rushed toward it. Jealousy, fury,
offended pride, all the passions in short that dispute the heart of
an outraged woman in love, urged her to make a revelation; but she
reflected that she would be totally lost if she confessed having
assisted in such a machination, and above all, that d'Artagnan would
also be lost to her forever. This last thought of love counseled her to
make this last sacrifice.

D'Artagnan, on his part, had gained the summit of all his wishes. It
was no longer a rival who was beloved; it was himself who wa