Too late to do anything tonight. he said. "but tomorrow I'll ask Monsieur de Treville to speak to the Queen about it. She'll find out where the Cardinal is keeping Madame Bonacieux prisoner. Thank you. You're lucky that you ve never been in love Do you think so? But I can tell you a love story. if you like, It's about a friend of mine. not me. you understand. Well, my friend was the head of one of the great French families. When he was twenty-five, he fell in love with a girl of sixteen. She was very beautiful. with long blonde hair and blue eyes. He married her and for a time they were very happy. Then one day when they were riding together, she fell off her horse and hurl her arm. He ran to help her, and opened the top oi her dress for her. There on her shoulder, he saw that she s branded What a terrible story!' cried d'Artagnan. a thief. He killed her "She was branded because she he hanged her from the nearest tree. That's why never fall in love now. D'Artagnan couldn't forget Athos s story. He was riding home, thinking hard, when he saw carriage with a beautiful blonde lady in it. She was talking angrily to a well-dressed Englishman. He was sitting on his horse and laughing at her Can l help you. Madame called d 'ls this gentleman being rude to you? I can teach him a lesson if you like Milady smiled up at d'Artagnan. Thank you. sir. but this gentleman is my brother-in-law. Lord de Winter De Winter looked angry. "This is none of your business. young man." he said crossly Kindly leave us alone No one speaks to me like that sir replied d'Artagnan. Let's talk about this later on the south side of the palace perhaps Shall we say six o'clock? I'll be there said de Winter D'Artagnan's plan was, to find out more about Milady. When. later that day, the two men met and fought. d'Artagnan won easily. I won't kill you." he told de Winter, "if you agree to take me to visit your sister-in-law. When I saw her today. I fell in love with her. Lord de Winter thanked d'Artagnan for sparing his life. and they agreed to meet at Milady's house the next day missing. Milady's given me the uwo diamonds stolen from Buckingham So how can there be twelve on the Queen's dress? Suddenly the King called across the long table to the Queen. am sorry that you're not wearing all my diamonds. Madame. The Queen lifted her beautiful head proudly. T don't know what you mean, sir," she said. And she turned to him. The King and the Cardinal counted twelve diamonds on her dress 'Well, Cardinal." shouted the King angrily, "what's all this about? Are you laughing at me? Explain yourself at once "I'm sorry, sir, replied the Cardinal. 'I I made a mistake. The Queen smiled secretly to herself And so did d'Artagnan. He was the anly one in the crowd who knew what was happening st then he felt a woman's hand on his arm. He looked letter the ground. The woman was and moving away, but he knew that it was Madame Bonacieux He took up the letter opened it and read it. It said: for what you've done I'd like Conte to the little ore art the end of Ave tote Saint Cloud itt ten o clock tomorrow and wait te for me. Co tance Bonacieux The next evening he rode escitedly through the dark streets to the Avenue Saint Cloud. It was a quiet and lonely part of Paris. and even brave d 1rtagnan started to feel afraid. But he saw no one. and waited until eleven o'clock outside the little house. He began to feel worried. "Why isn't she here?" he thought. Wh s happened? Then he saw an old man walking slowly past. Excuse me!" said d'Artagnan. 'Have you seen a young woman go into this house? the The old man looked afraid. "If I tell you. perhaps Cardinal's men will ind out, and kill me Oh, so his men were here, were they? That's right, sir with a dark. well-dressed man. They took the young woman from the house and drove away in a carriage man from "This is terrible! thought d'Artagnan. 'The Meung has kidnapped the poor wonian again! Is she hurt? Is she dead? How can get her back this time? 1 know! I'll ask Athos what to do friend. He rode last to Athos s house and woke up his Athos listened carefully to d'Artagnan's story.