The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-07
THE THREE GUARDSMEN
Bv ALEXANDRA DUMAS

Dv 4AA)A>xA33A1>4A Oo~S they could not count the studs. The queen had them. The only question was, had she ten or twelve?
 At that moment the violins sounded the signal for the ballet. The king advanced toward Madame Ia Presi- dente of the ball, with whom he was to dance, and his highness Monsieur the Count of Soissons, a relative of the king, with the queen. They took their places, and the ballet began.
 The king figured opposite the queen, and every time that he passed by her he devoured with his ey0 those studs, of which he could not ascertain the number. A cold sweat covered the brow of the cardinal.
 The ballet lasted an hour. It ended amid the applause of the whole as- semblage, and every one reconducted his lady to her place. But the king took advantage of the privilege he had of leaving his lady to advance eagerly toward the queen-
 'I thank you, madame" said he, "for the deference you have shown to my wishes, but I think you want two of the studs. and bring them back to you"
 sHow, sirer cried the young queen. affecting surprise. "You are giving me then two more. But then l shall have fourteen" M
 In fact, the king counted them, and the twelve studs were all on her maj- esty's shoulder.
 The king called the cardinal to him.
 .sWhat does this mean, M. the Car -dinal 2. eAked the king in 2 severs
 .sThis means, sire," replied the car dinal, Hthat I was desirous of present ing her majesty with these two studs and that, not daring to offer them my self, adopted this means of inducing her to accept them"
 And am the more grateful to your eminence," replied Anne of Austria, with. smile that proved she was not the dupe of this ingenious piece of gallantry, from being certain these two studs have cost you as dearly as all the others cost his majesty
 Then after lowing to the king and the cardinal the queen resumed her way to the chamber in which she had dressed and where she was to take off her ball costume.
 DArtagnan, to whom Anne of Aus tria owed the extraordinary triumph she had obtained over the cardinal, was lost in the crowd gathered at one of the doors. He looked on at this scene, comprehensible only to four per sons, the king, the queen, his emil hence and himself
 The queen had just regained her chamber, and D'Artagnan was about to retire when he felt his shoulder lightly touched. He turned round and saw a young woman who made him a sign to follow her. The face of this young woman was covered with a black velvet mask, but he recognized Mme Bonacieux
 On the evening before they had scarcely seen each other for a mo- ment at the apartment of the Swiss Germain, whither D'Artagnan had sent for her. The haste which the young woman was in to convey to her mistress the excellent news Of the hap py return of her messenger prevented the two from exchanging more than a few words. D'Artagnan th 'efore fol lowed Mime. Bonacieux, moved by a double sentiment, love and curiosity. She opened the door of closet, which was entirely dark, and led D'Arta- gnan into it. There she made sign of silence, and, opening a second door concealed by a tapestry and which opening spread at once a brilliant light, she disappeared.
 D'Artagnan remained for a moment motionless, asking himself where he could be, but soon ray of hgk$ which penetrated through the chambeS to. gether with the warm and perfun ed air which reached him from the same aperture, the conversation of two or three ladies in language at once re spectful and elegant and the word majesty" two or three times repeat ed indicated clearly that he was in 8 closet attached to the queens cham ber
 The queen appeared to be cheerful and happy, which seemed to astonish the persons who surrounded her and who were accustomed to see her al
 most always sad and full of care D'Artagnan heard her approach and withdrew from the partially open door and twice or three times he even saw the shadow of person intercept the light.
 At length a hand and an arm, sur passingly beautiful in their form and whiteness, glided through the tapestry D'Artagnan at once comprehended that this was his recompense. He cast himself on his knees, seized the hand and touched it respectfully with his lips. Then the hand was withdrawn leaving in his an object which he per ceived to be ring The door imlnedi ately closed, and D'Artagnan found himself again in eoWpletas sdaEkness.